12 September 2019
In August, a number of boys travelled to Edinburgh to take part in the Fringe Festival. Sixth formers Ben Adams, Jacob Henney, Tom Mills, Henry Muller, Yazan Odeh and Callum Ravden joined drama students from St Helen's and lower school pupil Rupert Mathieson in a new play called CONTACT LIGHT, especially written for them by former St Helen's drama students Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson.
The performances were generously supported by the Heads at both Abingdon and St Helen's, with extra financial support from the Old Abingdonian Club, to whom particular thanks are due. The show took place at the Pianodrome in Leith, a remarkable new venue describing itself as “the world's first 100-seat amphitheatre made entirely from recycled pianos”.
While the venue won the Fringe's sustainability award, the performances of Contact Light, directed by former St Helen's Head of Drama Jo Watt, with technical direction by OA Ash Verjee, were both very well-supported and enthusiastically received, with audiences including representatives from the film and TV companies Working Title and Comedy Central.
The Pianodrome also hosted our annual Loose Limbed Collective arts networking evening, and attracted approximately 50 OAs and former St Helen's students from the worlds of theatre, film, comedy and TV. Those attending were entertained by OAs Jonny and the Baptists, Toby Marlow, Ash Verjee and former St Helen's comedians Charly and Ellen under their comedy double act title of BRITNEY. All in all, it was a week to remember.
