Two of Charles Dickens’ best loved novels were brought to life when a group of school stage stars performed their own take on the Victorian classics.
Pupils aged between 12 and 18 at Mount St Mary’s College, in Spinkhill, Derbyshire, formed the cast for the adaptation of Great Expectations, which tells the story of a young boy nicknamed Pip, who was born an orphan but taken in by his sister and brother-in-law.
The theatrical performance, rendered into dramatic form by the Mount’s resident playwright Maxine Smith, was filled with decent and dastardly characters including Pip’s love interest the cold Estella, adopted and raised by the broken-hearted Miss Havisham.
Performed in the school library echoing a Victorian gentleman’s club, the fast paced play was mixed light and shade, rough and smooth to achieve a theatrical delight.
Jack Murphy, Head of English and Drama, Mount St Mary’s College, said: “The young cast rose to the occasion with aplomb. James Sharpe played the older Pip with assurance and vigour whilst Holly Band struck the right note of icy detachment as Estella. Joe Watson and Bethany Forster were well matched as the younger versions of the same characters.
“Emma Taylor made her final bow on stage at the Mount after seven years of outstanding service taking on the challenging role of Miss Havisham and delivering a performance of restrained cruelty, which was enjoyed by all.”
It was followed by a determined, dedicated and inspirational performance of Dickens’ first novel, The Pickwick Papers, by young pupils from the Mount’s preparatory school Barlborough Hall.
Pickwick is a series of adventures in the 1820s focused around the main character, Mr Samuel Pickwick, Esquire, played by William Hall.
Mr Wilson, Deputy Headteacher at Barlborough Hall, added: “Pickwick is not a common choice of musical for schools, and is rarely produced, but the children really got to grips with the plot and challenging script with some excellent performances.
“Special praise must also go to cast members Scarlet Coughlan as Mrs Bardell, Maddison Cooper as Sergeant Buzzfuzz, Sam Hall as Snodgrass, Fraser Terry as Winkle, Elena Charlesworth as Tupman, Eilidh McKell as Emily, Eleanor Whitehead as Rachel, Harry Cutts as Isabella and James Parsons as Mr Wardle.”