Pupils raise the curtain on Shakespearian comedy

STUDENTS paid homage to one of the world’s greatest writers by raising the curtain to a classic comedy on the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare.

Northallerton College students took to the stage for two two-hour performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

More than 20 Year 10 to 13 students had been rehearsing since October learning the original text, which they performed with a contemporary twist.

The audience were treated to the full script set in a modern setting and accompanied by contemporary music.

Head of drama Neil Stimson said: “Some people can be put off by ye olde speake and we wanted to make it more accessible by setting the play in a more contemporary world.

“The students did brilliantly well because Shakespeare is always challenging; there was a lot of text to learn and they had to understand the meaning as well in order to pass the humour on to the audience.

“Rehearsals took place over six months including college holidays, which showed real commitment. The response students received from the audiences proved this dedication to theatre was well worthwhile.”