To commemorate 100 years since the start of World War I, pupils at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth staged the classic, poignant satire ‘Oh What A Lovely War’. Amongst the frivolity and the up-beat songs of the wartime era were many serious messages, and these resonated through the mature performances of the students.
The 30 girls were joined by boys from many local schools including Watford Grammar School for Boys, St. Clement Dane’s School and Merchant Taylors School. The cast were a true ensemble – multi-roling for two hours – portraying soldiers, generals, nurses and munitions workers. The script takes recorded speeches, writings and reports from 1914-1918, and the sensitive and difficult subject matter was deftly handled by the students, all aged between 14 and 18.
The performers were supported by an impressive technical team also comprising of girls from the school. Sixth-former Beth designed, plotted and programmed the lighting, whilst other girls single-handedly stage-managed, organised props, controlled projections and worked as sound technicians.
The school has a strong reputation for Performing Arts, and this production follows a large-scale performance of the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth last year. The school was only the second in the country to perform the piece and many of the cast enjoyed the process so much they auditioned for ‘Oh What A Lovely War’. Both shows were directed by Performing Arts teacher Nicola Isherwood and ‘Oh What A Lovely War’ had a tight musical ensemble (also including some RMS students) directed by Head of Music, Julia Whitbread.
Director Perfoming Arts, Daniel Hyde, said “Each year I am impressed with the professionalism shown by the girls, both on and off-stage. It is a testament to their skills, encouraged and coached by our teaching staff, that allows us to stage such diverse productions.” The next musical show at RMS will be ‘The Demon Headmaster’, to be performed by girls from Years 7 to 9 in March 2015.
