Last week, we entered a world of pure imagination for our Year 7 Production of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, adapted by Richard George at the Kempton Steam Museum.
The Kempton Steam Museum, home to the world’s largest working triple-expansion steam engine, was transformed into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for the museum’s first ever theatre production.
Performing across two floors within the venue, the cast of 51 Year 7 pupils had to employ excellent physical performance and vocal projection skills to ensure that they could be heard by the audience and that their parts in the story were clearly communicated.
Every girl had an opportunity to shine, with all the main parts played by three girls and every cast member having individual lines. Audience members described this as effective as it allowed all girls a chance to have their moment and made the production more of a ‘whole ensemble effort’ overall. Our backstage team comprised of Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils, who displayed great initiative and leadership taking on roles such as Stage Manager, Head of Make Up and operating our lighting and sound during the show.
The pupils sold out both performances, with an audience of 120 in attendance each night.
