theatre
in education tours to schools |
24
September – 12 October
kes
adapted from A Kestrel for a Knave
by Barry Hines
Billy Casper, an apparently backward fifteen year-old boy, is neglected by his tarty mother, beaten by his older brother and bullied at school.
He finds solace in his pet kestrel, on which he lavishes admiration and affection. It is not so much the training of the young hawk that is important, but the effect it has on Billy’s motivation and sense of self-worth, qualities which neither his school nor family have sought to develop.
A Kestrel for a Knave is essentially about a community which fails its young and one young man’s ability to rise above this.
This production will complement the GCSE English Literature curriculum and will make an effective live performance study for GCSE Drama students. It is also highly relevant to the PSHE curriculum.
cut to the chase... in a Queen's Theatre production |
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 Jud / Eric Street / MacDowall Rafe Beckley |
 Mr Farthing / Mr Porter / Delamore Nicholas Blackman |
 Billy Dylan Kennedy |
 Mr Gryce / The Milkman / The Farmer / Mr Beale / Anderson Luke Shaw |
 Mrs Casper / Youth Employment Officer / bMrs Rose / Librarian / Gibbs Lucy Thackeray |
Production Photographs from the Spring tour by Nobby Clark
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what you thought “Very lively, creative interpretation of the novel. Lovely balance of comedy and depth-pupils were really engaged and attentive throughout. They were really drawn in. Some of the best individual performances seen. Very appealing to the boys in the audience who especially enjoyed it.” – Class Teacher, Marshalls Park School “The bit at the end was very powerful. It made me feel very emotional and it really made me wonder how I would feel if I were in Billy’s position. I thought the actors did extremely well and they really made the storyline clear.” – Student “It was amazing the amount of hope that a bird brought into a young man’s life. How the bird seemed to be the only good thing he had.” - Student It was good in the way that showed how anger can get to you, so that the brother killed the kestrel out of spite. I also liked how it was staged with only five characters and they used seats in the audience.” – Student “I really enjoyed the show. I thought that the way they represented ‘Kes’ worked really well. The use of the music worked well and the use of sounds and background noise created a believable atmosphere!” – Student “The performance was excellent and it brings understandable high quality theatre to children who would not normally get it.” – Class Teacher, Bower Park School “It was a superb production, the students were totally engaged throughout.” – Class Teacher, Mark Hall School “We enjoyed the pace, characterisation, non-stop energy, different staging and changes in moods. Excellent.” – Class Teacher, Redden Court School “A hugely enjoyable and educational experience. Thanks for coming.” – Class Teacher, Brittons School and Technology College Chalvedon School rated excellent on relevance for year group, participants’ attention, interaction with audience, educational value and admin/booking procedures. “I was really pleased with the overall service that was provided. The performers/crew provided a great learning environment for the pupils in the workshop - which really connected to the performance.” – Class Teacher “As always the case with the Queen’s Theatre touring company their TIE production of ‘Kes’ was spellbinding, totally captivating and very moving theatre that engaged all my GCSE Drama students thoroughly and continuously and also demonstrated to them with fabulous theatrical and performance expertise the power of theatre.” – Class Teacher, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls School
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