On 20^th June, a group of L6th pupils studying English journeyed to Stratford for a workshop run by the Assistant Director of the current production of Chekhov’s The Seagull. This preceded watching a performance of the play and a visit to Holy Trinity Church.

Tragedy and Ketchup

Account by Marietta Kirkbride

Our workshop was far more than just fun and games: it was a psychological exploration into the significance of linguistic interpretation and translation and an exposure as to which of us could use both sides of our brain and which of us were coordination infidels!

Our two hour taster of Chekhov from none other than the production's Assistant Director, enabled us to view the play from a more analytical and intellectual point of view when we came to watch it that afternoon. Having been put through the Stanislavski motions of producing one of the scenes in the morning, we were also able to appreciate the play on a more practical and dramatic level.

The performance of The Seagull was phenomenal - cruelly humorous and desperately tragic. The lighting mirrored the changing moods and subconsciously delivered the suppressive truth about the nature of fame.

A visit to the small but exquisitely ornate Holy Trinity Church left us enough time to retreat to the benches at the centre of Stratford’s city park with a bag from the chip shop. The cloud-cast shadows shrunk into corners and the sun made the fountain flash and glitter as it should. Now we realised that life was worth living after all: for even if all our careers were disasters; even if the future loves of our lives would reject us, the sky would not fall on our heads so long as we still had fish and chips and plenty of Ketchup!

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