★★★★★

We all go to the theatre and are regularly amazed by the level of the performances that we see. Actors who have trained and are at the peak of their careers. We often take this for granted. But we don’t often think about the next generation of performers and where they will come from. Well, if my experience at Arts1 School of Performing Arts in Milton Keynes is anything to go by – the future of theatre is in VERY good hands.

Having not come into contact with any Greek theatre since my degree days I headed off to Arts1 for their end of year production. This was the second year Acting students and the culmination of their two year course. Written by Sophocles this play tells of the female protagonist Antigone and is a story of the desire for power and free will.

Performed in the ‘black studio’ we were greeted by an atmospheric setting with sails spread across the back wall and fog rising across the space. There is something wonderful about a black box space as it offers so many opportunities and director, Gemma Crooks, and lighting designer, Kory Trantum (who also took on the role of Stage Management, along with Aleesha Evans), worked wonders with this one.

The costumes, designed by Alison Walton, perfectly complimented the set. Simple, yet effective.

This version – adapted by the students and staff – set the play not in Ancient Greece but a dystopian future. If you went expecting your regular school 6th form production then you were going to be pleasantly surprised.

There were two casts performing over the weekend and in the performance I saw Antigone was played by Jess Dippenaar. I was very impressed with her performance, as she mourned the death of her siblings and agonised over the desire to honour both of them even this this was forbidden in the case of Polynices. She certainly drew us into the play.

The perfect adversary to her was Poppy Latimar as Creon. She was fierce and strong as the Queen of this dystopian community and asserting her power over others.

Mercedes Bentley and Brooke Tobin played Antigone’s battling siblings Eteocles and Polynices, who fail to rule peacefully together. They played very well off each other.

Harry Wigington played Antigone’s fiancé, Haemon, and his discovery of Antigone’s death was very moving.

Although I have mentioned these performers and characters, there really was not a single weak link in the play. From Grace Byworth as Tiresias, who framed the play, to every member of the chorus, the entire cast was performing as an ensemble – a key element to any Greek drama.

The full cast consisted of Tanika Bannerjee, Sophie Barnes, Nelson Bennet, Mercedes Bentley, Grace Byworth, Jess Dippenaar, Imogen Evans, Poppy Latimer, Keira Read, Jasmine Riddeford, Brooke Tobin, and Harry Wigington.

Many of these students are going onto further training and it is not hard to see why. Arts1 seems to do very well at nurturing the next generation of performers and offers a level of training that is hard to find elsewhere at this age.

Well done to everyone involved. I left feeling enthused for the future of the industry.

To find out more about Arts1 and their full time Sixth Form course visit their website – https://www.arts1.co.uk/sixth-form-courses/

Photos © Beth Halford