School Play- Arabian Nights

By: H. Ribeiro

Behind the theatre's curtains – interview with the play's cast 

This year’s school play was the Arabian Nights, directed by Mr. Seidl and performed by students from a wide range of year-groups. Since August, the cast has been working hard and rehearsing long hours, which definitely paid off as seen in their amazing performance. 
The Arabian Nights’ production was inspired by the stories of 1001 nights and was chosen for this year’s theme due to its cultural diversity and important message being transmitted: violence is not a solution in resolving problems. Another aspect that contributed to the choice of the production was the mixture of music and drama. In fact, the cast members sang in different languages, such as Arabic and Hebrew. 
During the interview, actors mentioned that they were expecting an enriching experience, which was, without a doubt, accomplished. However, what they weren’t expecting was to make so many friends, especially with older pupils, who they learnt a lot from. The actors also said that even though the play was very demanding and time consuming, they genuinely enjoyed it and, after it all came together, they described it as the highlight of their school year. 
As opening night approached, practice sessions became longer and more exhausting, since pupils had lots of homework along with other responsibilities. During these rehearsals, the actors also had the opportunity to assist Mr.Seidl with directing some scenes and felt that they were adding their own input to the play, which made the experience even more memorable. 
Moreover, the play benefited from the help of a professional set designer, who gave them constructive advice and feedback on how to improve the set. Tickets were also sold online for the first time, which made it easier for the spectators to reserve their tickets at home. 
The performers recommended participating in the play to those who are interested in the Arts. They also mentioned that it is an opportunity to improve teamwork, time management and public speaking, which are all skills that will assist students in their academic curriculum. Overall, the actors made it clear that taking part in the play is worth it even if it is very demanding and tiring.