Laura Kelly, Flo Bonner, Fiona Snook and Emily Badham, all Year 13 students at saltash.net community school, gave two powerful performances of their Advanced Level Drama production ‘Who does she think she is?’ to an invited audience of friends, family members and staff, after school on Friday 23rd January.
The original piece of theatre had been devised by the students as part of their Advanced Level examination assessment requirement and they had been working on it for several months, researching the issues explored as well as rehearsing the drama itself.
Focusing on themes of female vulnerability, including anorexia, human trafficking, domestic violence and gender equality in the workplace, the performances had an intense and emotional impact on all of those present.
Head of Drama, Jo Loyn, who supported the students during their preparation for the assessment, said, ‘The final performance was the result of an intense research and rehearsal process which the students have been involved in since last September. Using this research, gathered from speaking to various groups and individuals, and their knowledge and understanding of many different theatre forms and styles, they were able to devise this powerful piece of Drama about the role and treatment of women in society today. We are very impressed with the maturity and standard of the finished result. Their intention was to make the audience sit up and reflect on the stories they were being told and they definitely achieved their intended aim, with many audience members in tears.’