Students from the Independent School will present Shakespeare’s Othello on Tuesday August 9 at the International Conference Centre (ICCS).
The play, performed by the A-Level drama club, is about love, betrayal, jealousy… and murder: universal themes that the audience can identify with. Dancing, singing and sword-fighting bring this age-old tale of revenge alive, performed in modern English but keeping true to the original plot.
The idea to stage a Shakespeare play came to life in the A-Level English Literature classroom in term one. The students,
studying Othello as part of their course, decided that they would like to perform the play and started rehearsing.
The play revolves around Othello, the Moor of Venice, a General in the Venetian army, who marries the daughter of a Senator in secret; Iago, the villain who manipulates everyone around him to get revenge; Desdemona, the tragic wife of Othello; Cassio, Othello’s Lieutenant, and Emilia, Iago’s wife. All become twisted into Iago’s web of lies and deceit.
During the A-Level study tour in May, which took place in Italy this year, some of the drama club students took the opportunity to buy authentic Venetian masks for the play, which is set in Venice, Italy. The rest of the costumes have been made locally and props sourced from various places. The backdrop and set pieces were built and painted by the school’s Art Club, and the History Club students will be helping sell tickets and medieval food on the day, in Shakespearean costume.
Limited to one day only, there are two performances scheduled: 3pm and 7pm. The 7pm show will include an intermission during which refreshments will be on sale and a chance to socialise.
Tickets cost R100 (or R50 for students at the 3pm show) and are on sale at the Independent School administration offices, on both the Ile du Port and Union Vale campuses, or they can be reserved by phoning the school on 258 57 74. Tickets will also be on sale at the door Tuesday evening.
The accompanying photos show students displaying their masks as they eagerly look forward to stage the play.
Source : Seychelles NATION