National Champions!

The Moat School’s involvement in the National Theatre’s New Connections Festival last term was a huge success. The performance of Anthony Neilson’s new play, The Séance, at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre, brought the audience to its feet. The play’s sharp wit and realism was communicated with precision by the cast, who took the audience on a frequently moving, often hilarious journey into the minds of modern teenagers just beginning to explore their own mortality. The Séance was performed by GCSE Drama pupils Daisy Everett, Ella Knight, Jessica Weiss, Sascha Bailey, Daniel Harney, Bradley Rockall and Matthew Williams, and was directed by The Moat School’s Director of Performing Arts, Matthew Potger.

Under Mr Potger’s direction, the Moat School has worked with the National Theatre on several other projects recently, hosting a schools’ workshop based on the NT’s production of War Horse and taking part in the Shakespeare School’s Festival for the fourth year running. The Moat School’s high-profile presence at the National Theatre has led to it being invited to participate in the National Theatre Schools Partnership programme for 2009 / 2010, as a centre of excellence. This programme will include workshops, performances and masterclasses lead by National Theatre directors and practitioners, designed to tie-in with their upcoming productions of Mother Courage and Nation.

 ‘It was a great experience. Life changing in the way it gave me confidence’  - Daniel Harney

Picture: This photograph was taken by Daisy Everett on stage during the performance at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre as part of the play, when her character, Phoebe, offers to take a photo of the group before the séance starts.