Barry Comprehensive School

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Two years ago, the Drama Department at Barry Comprehensive School set about teaching the ancient Greek tragedy of ‘Antigone' to Year 8 pupils. With such a challenging text, (a set text in A Level Theatre Studies) we looked at adapting the work to make it more accessible to the pupils. The story of ‘ Thebes ' nightclub was the result.

During the summer term, the Drama studio was turned into the legendary nightclub and the boys who entered it became part of the ancient tragedy, taking on the roles of the main characters and performing scenes through acting and dance.

Over the last six weeks, twenty seven Year 9 students have been hard at work adapting and developing a modernised version of the play. The pupils, who are completing an Expressive Arts GCSE two years earlier than usual and in only one year instead two, have used ‘Antigone' as their guideline but made some changes of their own. The boys decided to tell Creon's story and explore how he had been affected by power and responsibility.

This week, two performances of ‘ Thebes ' marked the end of this year's Expressive Arts course, and we would like to congratulate all the cast for their hard work, commitment and dedication both during the course and for their intense and moving performances on stage. A huge well done, gentlemen!

Photos

1. The cast of ' Thebes '
2. Year 9 Expressive Arts
3. A nightclub scene
4. Year 9 Expressive Arts