Truro School’s production of The Snow Queen was performed across four nights in November, to sell-out crowds in the school’s Burrell Theatre.
The much-loved story, written by Hans Christian Andersen, focuses on a young girl, Gerda, who travels all the way to the North Pole to rescue her friend Kai from the grips of the malicious Snow Queen. Adapted for the stage by Ben Oldfield, Director of Drama, it still carries the main message of compassion and empathy.
The 80-strong cast and crew have been working to a high level of professional etiquette, which is instilled throughout the Burrell Theatre.
Working with local artists, including Sandra Goodenough, the students have encapsulated the essence of the Snow Queen in the acting, stage design, costumes and technical aspects of the play.
“Theatre is probably one of the only arts genre that you cannot do on your own, you cannot do it individually, it is a huge creative process and everyone has to be working at the highest possible level and all going in the same direction,” said Sandra.
The episodic nature of the play meant that there was a need for a set that would serve every location. Having created an ice-themed stage featuring different levels, the technical team set about projecting onto the surfaces of the set.
Tazmin Burr, the Burrell Theatre’s Resident Manager, worked tirelessly on costumes, alongside parents Jo Craze and Amanda Piercy. Together, with the students’ help, they created a range of outlandish outfits that encapsulated the fairy-tale feel of The Snow Queen.
“We are getting more and more students being serious contenders to go into the field. Every year there seems to be more people coming up who are of a certain calibre and going into the industry with awareness,” said Ben. “At Truro school, we like to push them to a higher level and make them think about what they could do once they leave.”
