Rhubarb 2021

ST EDWARD’S

Lucy Maycock (MCR, 2000-2016), Head of Drama and Director of The Crucible in 2004, fondly remembers the production D irecting The Crucible at St Edward’s was a tremendous experience for me.The play presents many opportunities for young actors to think about issues of justice and of misinformation.When we were in rehearsal, news of ‘TheWar on Terror’ was everywhere and there was an atmosphere in the country of anxiety and panic about religious fundamentalism. It felt like a good time to be looking at the things that can go wrong when we project our fears on to others and to be reminded of the dangers of a 'witch hunt'. I was extremely lucky with my cast. They were a remarkable group of young people who really operated as a company.They were bright, funny, enthusiastic and imaginative and although the play was serious, laughter was a key ingredient of rehearsal.The thing that still makes me smile most (apart from the time I sent Simon Roche out to source 100 wooden pallets from a builder’s yard and he returned with the set in the back of a school delivery van) is the vision of my daughter,Tallulah who was nine years old at the time. As a single parent and with rehearsals taking up all my evenings and Sundays,Tallulah had to be in the play so that I could keep an eye on her. So she donned her Puritan costume and joined the ranks of the other Salem girls, screaming and running around and generally causing chaos. I owe Tallulah a great deal.

Rory Butler, George Baggaley, Rev Wright and Harry Greaves post-A Levels

FEATURE

OSE George Hiner, Dave Wright, George Baggaley and Dan Kilpatrick summer 2021

George Baggaley (Segar’s, 2001-2006)

Character in The Crucible 2004: Judge Trent.

Tell us about your time at Teddies? Loved it – I’m still friends with many of my schoolmates. (see pics!) What do you remember about being involved in the performance of The Crucible ? To accommodate more pupils than in the original play’s cast, Ms Maycock carved out a few new roles from other character’s lines.This gave birth to perhaps the best made-up character of all time – Judge Trent! The most memorable aspect was the brilliant decision to perform the play on the floor of the school hall, rather than the stage. I’m not sure if this had ever been done before. What have you been up to since leaving St Edward’s? I did undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in London before embarking on a career in communications.Today I head up comms for HP in Europe (no, I can’t get you a free printer!). I’ve recently moved out of the city to Chesham at the end of the Metropolitan Line. What is your fondest memory of your time at Teddies? Playing 5-a-side and golf in the summer evenings – particularly post-exams! Who was your most inspirational teacher at Teddies? I’d have to go with our Segar’s Housemaster RevWright (MCR, 1991-2007). Top man. This meant the audience totally surrounded the performance, making the set feel like a crucible!

She was, as they say, a trooper. And those were good times.

The Crucible 2004

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