The final production from our drama department for this academic year came courtesy of Lower School pupils, who delighted audiences with their performance of ‘Hetty Feather’ by Jacqueline Wilson and beautifully adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves.

Alan Heaven, former Head of Drama at Pocklington School, had the pleasure of witnessing the first of three performances and provided the following review:

“What a wonderful way to mark the summer solstice! A celebratory play for the longest day of the year seems just right and that’s what director Emma Cunningham brought us.

I would never have guessed it was a first night. The actors were confident, choreographed precisely and always audible despite the notoriously tricky acoustic in the Tom Stoppard Theatre. The sound was helped by perfectly handled levels in the secure hands of Henry Saunders which ensured that the performers were never drowned out, always underscored. Lovely. The quality of the sound has certainly improved in the past few years and adds to the professionalism of the theatre. By the look of it, so has the lighting, smoothly controlled by Isabel Tompkins and team in the face of mechanical ambivalence. Well done to all up in the box and behind the follow spots.

Of course, we know the genius behind all of this. It’s the same person who constructed the masterful set: Technical Manager Steff Ryan. Anyone notice the puppets? They’re his too. Absolutely gorgeous hand puppets make an all-too brief appearance stage left when there is an inspired and swift transformation of a tree house into a red-fronted puppet booth. The actors handle the moment very nicely indeed.

Costumes match the setting masterfully. There’s no-one quite like Cheryl White for making the best use of every scrap and remnant and transforming them into superb outfits. Her work has been one of the truly unique and inspirational features of theatre at Pocklington School for many years and you are fortunate indeed to have her. Period costumes and comedy socks made a very appealing look, but I love to see uniformity in appearance and Cheryl certainly achieved that, especially with the nurses.

Lara Dettmar, Freya Bean, Lily, Millie Blakemore and Imogen Reynolds were just terrific in those roles. Spot-on and full of energy, they really helped every scene work fluidly. I’m a big fan of their tyrannical leader Gabriella Duggan, whose stepladder height made her fearsome and whose manner was appropriately in control. She was great. So too was Nurse Winnie, played with vivacity by Isla Whitford and, of course, secret saviour of the day Ida (it’s Hetty’s real mum!). Beth Symes was calm, clear and in charge of the space all the time.

Much credit also to the circus people. The audience I was with gasped at the skills of Eva Gillies-Sandri, who was superb throughout - especially as Sam - and at gymnastics. Not that the others weren't great though. They certainly were. It was a fun scene altogether, especially with the mighty Hercules (Bertie Rowbottom) making the most of his sequence.

The core team of Saul, Jem and Gideon (Faye Wilkinson, Jerry King, Alexander Austin) gave us character and energy every time they appeared, with the recalcitrant and determined Saul often stealing the moment triumphantly. Octavia Farnsworth’s Peg was a pleasure to watch too, and so many were. Isabel Moorhouse for example handled the teacher with Beano-like caricature, making the character come alive for us. And the Foundlings and urchins were terrific. Credit also to Sheila and Harriet, Evangelina Shaw and Olivia Uttley, whose appearances were always a joy to see.

But you know how it is, we all have favourites when we watch a play. And if the Matron was one, then Hetty Feather herself and Madame Adeline were my other two. Not that they were necessarily the best (what does that mean in this world anyway when someone with the tiniest role can excel?) but I enjoyed their performances especially and for that, many thanks. Lia Steggall would sit very nicely on any professional stage anywhere with that degree of confidence. She was absolutely terrific and gave the role a clarity and simplicity that made it a pleasure to watch. A great, great performance.

I was chatting to someone before it began who asked if I thought it was wise to put all the focus on one character in a Lower School Play. It was. When I saw them at the end we agreed that the girl playing Hetty Feather was a knockout. All congratulations to Chloe Kitchen. She held the play together with speed, focus, confidence, engagement and a spirit of fun. She looked like she was having a whale of a time and because of that, we did too. Chloe, you are fantastic.

Well done also to those others we didn’t see, like Drama teacher Gemma Hudson, working on voice with the marvellous Hattie Hawkes. To the wardrobe team of Elisha Jones, Crystal Wong and Chloe Brittenden. To your excellent Head of Drama of course, Katie Crossley and to the Technical Assistants Daniel Clark, Guy Guttridge, Joe Beckwith and Tyler Swanborough. Top marks to the person who is most invisible but on whom the running of the entire show depends: DSM Sophie Hodkin. She handled a stressful job beautifully.

In the end though, it all comes down to the Director. Emma Cunningham’s experience shone through. She just knows how to deliver a production. If bits were missing or lines lost on this first night, all I can say is nobody noticed. We were too rapt in the sheer delight of this beautiful to look at, joyful to hear, and delightful to have experienced triumph of a show. Applause where it’s due Mrs Cunningham, and that’s to you and the creative team as well as the pupils.

Thank you all for a lovely evening. I can hardly wait to see what else you do over the coming years. Hetty Feather was a triumph.”

Thank you to Alan Heaven for providing this review. The production was an excellent showcase of the pupils’ potential, a testament to the quality of the School’s Drama department and the dedication of all involved. What a remarkable finale to the academic year. Well done everyone!

To view a photo album from the production, please click here.