Mrs Nicola Simm – Teacher of English

On Monday 9th March a number of U5 students experienced Shakespeare live on stage, watching a production of Macbeth at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton. Upper Fifth study Macbeth as part of their English Literature IGCSE and this was a valuable opportunity to explore the play in more detail. 

The production was a powerful and chilling take on the iconic tragedy, which lays bare the human cost of unchecked ambition. The students engaged well with the modern retelling, directed by Mark Babych. The play was well-paced, relatively easy to follow, and engaging, with fight scenes choreographed by fight director, Haruka Kuroda. The close proximity of the stage to the audience allowed the students to immerse themselves further into the action, with audible gasps as scenes developed.

The morning was a huge success with students not only engaging well but presenting themselves as true Bedians, in their behaviour and attitude.