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The week started off with a re-cap of Act 1 which proved promising despite the fact we hadn’t rehearsed it for a while. However when running Act 2, the energy started to waver. Despite this, it was incredibly exciting to start piecing together the two acts in sequence, starting to properly fabricate a hefty chunk of the play. Darren then broke a prop with a hammer. In the second rehearsal Steve put forward an exercise that was complete genius. I'm not allowed to give any further information but it resulted in an edgy and explosive atmosphere, exactly what the play needed. I felt we were able to bring new and appropriate interpretations to our characters that we could transfer into both acts. It was beautiful. Steve is a legend. The week was finished off with a succulent meal at an Italian restaurant!

We finished our first week of rehearsals with a complete, off-script run of act one. Dennis Kelly’s contemporary script is the kind you need to dive headfirst into and after a week working with it, we produced a performance that settled us into our characters and gave us a good basis to build act two from. Osama the Hero is a really challenging script, but it’s so much fun and really rewarding when everything comes together. I’m really grateful to be part of this unique and amazing experience, especially as a new 6.1 and I’m so excited to perform with the amazing cast.

Osama the Hero by Dennis Kelly
6th Form Production
8, 9, 10 November
7:30pm
Bedales Olivier Theatre
tickets@bedales.org.uk

When I read this play in the early part of the Summer Term, I knew I had stumbled onto something special. To say stumbled, however, is an inaccuracy. The National Student Drama Festival led me to two other Dennis Kelly plays - After the End and Orphans - and reinvigorated my admiration for this man’s writing. His brutal and observational style is engaging, horrifying and brilliantly astute.

Casting was exceptionally tough. Over 30 Sixth Form students battled it out for a mere five places. I could have cast this production over and over. The lucky five, however, have just shown their worth in what only can be described as an inspiring and breathtaking first rehearsal. These sharp minds (Josh Graham, Darren Siah, Pierro Niel-Mee, Evie Cullingworth and Lilly Lewis) injected intellect and energy into what was supposed to be a mere read-through. Instead, most of the production was blocked with such awareness that I almost feel redundant.

Put these dates in your diaries folks - this is going to be special.

Osama the Hero by Dennis Kelly
6th Form Production
8, 9, 10 November
7:30pm
Bedales Olivier Theatre
tickets@bedales.org.uk