This term`s dramatic production was `Grimm Tales`, an adaptation of some of the best known and best loved fairy tales from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Although the tales have been adapted for performance, there were no given stage directions and the great fun of this piece was the process of rehearsal through which all the movement and interpretation of the pieces were created.

There were lots of `firsts` in this production: Juniors worked alongside the Upper Sixth for the first time; the new lighting system installed in the MPH and so generously sponsored by `The Friends` was put through its maiden voyage by Mrs Alison Walker and the enormous stage of the MPH was given a totally new look by Mr Hill`s huge steel and corrugated card structure, which became the `world of the play`.

The interpretation of the piece was to be as far removed from the saccharine sweet idea of fairy tales as possible, with the cast dressed as `urban warriors` inhabiting a tunnel, damp and graffiitied, stuffed with junk, old washing machines and rusting bicycles. The cast created their costumes themselves and a very able group of GCSE Drama students added the finishing touches with make up which ranged from tribal markings through to full face paint for a dog and a lion! The accompanying sounds for the world of chaos and disorder which the cast created, sometimes through humour, sometimes through fear, were splendidly provided by the improvisations of Hannah Smith on organ and Martin Cropper on drums. Evan Beswick created six original electronic pieces for the interval music all of which did a great deal to convey the quirkiness of this `grim` world. Megan Davies added to this too with her hauntingly breathy rendition of a song which captured a longing for the innocence of childhood.

Seven tales, adapted as plays were performed by a cast of almost 50 students, taken from every year group in the school. The evening began with the Sixth Form`s presentation of `Hansel and Gretel`, a powerful piece with Janyll Rawlins as a very compelling witch with red eyes who could sniff out children to eat Rebecca Ridley and Travis Peters were the unfortunate children, lost in the forest who eventually meet up again with their father, played very memorably by Andrew Gregson as the mesmerised husband. Mrs Alison Walker provided some wonderful lighting effects for this piece with a glitter ball conveying the sparkling pebbles and torches used in blackout for the nightmarish scenes in the forest.

In `Iron Hans`, Freddie Buxton and Oliver Fisher headed up a very strong cast in a tale which allowed these two talented young actors to play good comic roles. We shall never forget Freddie appearing as the Viking-inspired king on horseback, complete with coconut shells, nor Oliver trying to avoid his wrath whilst wearing a long blonde wig and bonnet. `The Lady and the Lion` gave Maddie Eaves and Nick Rhodes an opportunity to show off the strength of their acting partnership as a couple who lose sight of each other, largely because the boy keeps turning into different animals! With very few props, Nick was able to convey a prince, a lion and a white dove and this is a great testament to his talent. Maddie and Verity Taylor, as the Dragon Princess, shared possession of a splendid red dress which proved difficult to put on, but by this time the audience were distracted by the chocolates which were being thrown from the stage. The audience was lead into the interval by a beautifully choreographed piece, A Riddling Tale, which showed the dance skills of Amy Bleach, Amy Dupres and Susie Leyland.

Act Two opened with `Aschputtel` or Cinderella as we more commonly call it, with Hannah Spacey as a very compelling Aschputtel. This was a radically different interpretation of the tale which featured Hannah arriving at the ball in a Ferrarri and departing with Prince Charming on a `Harley Davidison` ( yes she passed her test) with fabulous sound effects provided on stage by Andrew Gregson. Nicole Lee was a gentle and elegant Mother Spirit, which provided a calm contrast to Hannah`s gymnastics. The Juniors returned to the stage for `The Magic Table and The Donkey` and this is perhaps the place to mention the wonderful and creative work which the First Years girls did in making the landscape of the various plays. They provided the hills, dales, relatives, soldiers, forests, animals…you name it, all through mime and their own creativity. Not only that, but they had more rehearsals than anyone else, and they were never late (others take note please) KGS can look forward to a bright future with the commitment and energy which these girls have shown in their earliest weeks at school. Although it is difficult to single out actors from this particular play, mention must be made of Grace Garlington as a splendidly funny goat and donkey, Michael Bennett as the three (!) workmen and Melissa Swain as the very nasty Landlady.

The evening was rounded off by the Seniors again in `The Golden Goose`,with Andrew Gregson also playing three sons, one of whom was most definitely inspired by Alan Partridge (Aha!). The audience responded well to the slapstick qualities in this piece and Travis Peters was much admired in a cameo role as the `little old man`, as was Rebecca Ridley as the narrator, with her beautiful speaking voice.