On Friday, Sixth Form A Level English students attended an adaptation of Sam Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners at the Kiln Theatre. The novel, a key text in the A Level English Literature syllabus, explores the experiences of “Windrush-era” migrants who traveled from the West Indies to London in the 1950s, seeking new opportunities amidst the challenges of post-war Britain. The story focuses on a vibrant community of Caribbean men and women, navigating cultural displacement, racial prejudice and economic hardship while forging lives in an unfamiliar city.
The theatrical adaptation brought Selvon’s rich and evocative prose to life through a powerful blend of dialogue, music and staging. It vividly captured the characters’ struggles and triumphs, painting a nuanced portrait of their resilience and camaraderie. Students were struck by how the production conveyed the humour, humanity, and bittersweet realities of life in London during this period. Many remarked that the performance deepened their understanding of key themes such as identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience.
On Wednesday, Third Form Drama students attended a matinee performance of War Horse at The New Victoria Theatre in Woking. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s acclaimed novel, the play tells the moving story of Albert, a young boy whose beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry and sent to fight in World War I. Through Joey’s journey across battlefields, the play explores the devastating impact of war on both humans and animals, emphasising themes of friendship, loyalty and perseverance in the hardest of times.
The production is renowned for its ground-breaking puppetry, which brought Joey and other animals to life with astonishing realism. Combined with an evocative soundtrack, live singing and stunning, immersive set design, the performance captivated the students and left a lasting emotional impact. We look forward to exploring these texts in greater detail in our lessons.
A photo gallery of both trips can be found below:
