The Faulkner’s Production is a key moment in our first-year pupils’ calendar as it provides the Year 9s with an opportunity to explore the world of Bradfield drama in a safe environment with just their peers.
This year-group-protected play allows pupils who may never do drama again to get involved in a production. It is a time for making new friends and connections while working towards something they can proudly show off to peers, parents and staff after a term of hard work.
The production was directed by Georgia Mussellwhite, the Drama Department graduate teacher, and the pupils put on four performances of Around the World in 80 Days, based on the classic novel by Jules Verne set in 1872.
In the story Phileas Fogg makes a wager of £20,000 (today that is worth £2,893,503.05!) that he can travel around the world in just 80 days. Nowadays that would be easy, we would jump on a plane or perhaps in the future, a space shuttle. However, in the days of Phileas Fogg, that meant bouncing from rail to sea connections. Travelling alongside his valet, Jean Passepartout, his journey is not easy as he is chased around the world by Inspector Fix, who believes he is the thief of the recent Bank of England robbery.
Verne’s novel has been adapted for radio, stage, film and TV with most people familiar with the recent adaptation starring David Tennant. This version of the story took out the characters of Inspector Fix and Miss Aouda and replaced them with a character called Abigail Fix Fortescue, a journalist who travelled alongside Fogg and Passepartout. Instead, the villain of the show is the man who Fogg bets against, Nyle Bellamy.
“I was very lucky to be spoilt for choice when casting the Faulkner’s Play”, Director Georgia comments. “This led me to the choice of double casting as I wanted as many Faulkner’s pupils to get involved as possible. Alongside this, the original text is very male dominated with the only main female character simply introduced as the love interest for Fogg. I wanted to be able to include as many of our talented Faulkner’s girls as possible, without forcing them to play men. Therefore, I began to consider which characters we could potentially gender flip. I was immediately drawn to Phileas Fogg; hence, we created Philia Fogg. We have ended up with two very different but head-strong women, Philia, uptight and incredibly intelligent, played by Angelique (LJ) and Jemima (LI), and Abigail, creative and comfortable in her own skin, played by Jennie (LM) and Flo (LJ), to accompany the funny and well-travelled, Passepartout, played by Olly (LF) and Robert (LH), and finally the determined and bumbling Inspector, played by James (LH) and Ollie (LD).”
With four sold out performances going down a treat in the Old Gym, there is no doubt that this ambitious production will live long in the memories of our cast and audiences alike.
