Find out more
A Soldier’s Dream, written and directed by fifth former Jess V was a performance of the highest quality, depicting the true lives of both Wilfred Owen and Jessie Pope during the First World War. Rufus S, acting as Wilfred Owen, accurately portrayed the brutal truths of war and the suffering that the soldiers had to endure. His realistic portrayal created a powerful emotional connection between his character and the audience. Moreover, Eloise K, playing the role of Jessie Pope, thoroughly demonstrated through her compelling vocality and physicality, the struggle of women in obtaining equal rights as well as the propaganda used to encourage men to fight. She and the rest of the cast were able to bring humour and lightness to the piece, ultimately creating the perfect balance of comedy and seriousness regarding WW1. Lighting, sound, and the use of props rented from Scenery Salvage (Green Clover) further helped to enforce the threatening atmosphere of a world consumed by war. The clever use of projection presented images of Wilfred Owen, which created a very poignant and emotional response during the funeral scene. This moment was staged beautifully with the Last Post performed on a bugle. Overall, Jess put together an incredibly well-choreographed and engaging performance.
Mr Dahl commented on the performance:
It’s hard to believe that such a mature and powerful script is the work of a 15 year old Wellingtonian. Take a bow, Jess.
Click HERE to watch the full performance (12+ audience recommendation).
