March was the last month that our Young Reporters were able to attend the theatre productions we offer them, as the Coronavirus locked down the country. However, we did have quite a few winners who managed to see performances at the beginning of the month.
First up was Adam De Salle from The John Roan School, who won tickets to see The Taming of The Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe.
Katharina and Bianca, the daughters of a rich man of Padua, are ready to marry. The game is simple: the youngest can be won only if the eldest finds her equal. But Katharina is strong-willed and not afraid to challenge the rules. Who will be able to rival her? The hunt is on.
Click here to read Adam's review.
Our next winner to see a production was Emily Parsons from Lady Eleanor Holles, who won tickets to see The Cat and The Canary at Richmond Theatre.
Twenty years after the death of Mr West, his descendants gather at a remote mansion to learn who will inherit his vast wealth and the hidden family jewels. When the heir is revealed, the heritage hunters turn into prey and a chain of macabre events is set in motion; walls crack open, shadows loom and dark secrets are revealed. Will the heirs dare to face the haunting presence toying with them?
Click here to read Emily's review.
The third winner of the month was Derin Burke from St Olave's Grammar School, who won tickets to see Macbeth: Playing Shakespeare with Deutsch Bank at Shakespeare's Globe.
A psychological thriller examining the dangers of political ambition, this play is a gripping, full scale 90 minute performance in the Globe Theatre. The perfect way to introduce young people to Shakespeare, this production is designed to break down walls to cultural access and empower teenagers to develop their creature curiosity. Expect fast-pasted, dramatic, accessible performances and a show the whole family will enjoy.
Derin Said: "Thank you for this great opportunity, the talk beforehand was very informative and it was great meeting and talking about the Globe and Shakespeare with people. This experience has definitely changed me, not only altering my ideas about Macbeth as a play but also those regarding mental health in the modern day. The pre-show talk was helpful on many levels, and the mere fact that it was so openly discussed was a greatly gratifying experience. The show itself was absolutely fascinating, especially when analysing how the characters delivered lines compared to how we interpret them in GCSE English Literature."
Click here to read Derin's review.
Next up to win tickets was Alex Pyatnytska from Esher College, who went to see Matthew Bourne’s Production of The Red Shoes at New Wimbledon Theatre.
The Red Shoes is a tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion. A sell-out before its world premiere tour opened in 2016, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the legendary film returns after winning two Olivier Awards and dazzling audiences across the UK and the USA.
Click here to read Alex's review.
Our fifth winner of tickets for March was Tahmina Sayfi from The Henrietta Barnett School, who won tickets to see The Kite Runner at Richmond Theatre.
Based on Khaled Hosseini’s international bestselling novel, this haunting tale of friendship which spans cultures and continents follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country on the verge of war and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither Hassan nor Amir can foresee the terrible incident which will shatter their lives forever.
Tahmina said: "The opportunity to review this show means so much because The Kite Runner's one of the few plays about Afghanistan"
Click here to read Tahmina's review.
Our final winner for March was Maleehah Laher from Tolworth Girls School, who went to see Love, Love, Love at The Lyric Hammersmith.
It’s 1967. The Beatles are performing All You Need Is Love on global TV for the very first time. Kenneth and Sandra meet. They build their life and family together in a time of increasing national prosperity, when the future is always better than the past. Now they’re retired and their children grown, but what happens when the children you think you’ve done everything for, believe you haven’t done enough? A family go to war over their personal politics in this funny and scathing look at the opposing values of two very different generations.
Click here to read Maleehah's review.
We are looking forward to when this pandemic no longer affects the theatre community and we can send our Young Reporters to productions again, but for now thank you to all the theatres who have offered us tickets over the last seven months. Your support is massively appreciated.