This week, I would like to host a blog from our Head of English and future Deputy Head Academic at Habs Girls Junior School, Mr Russell Bloch. Mr Bloch, Miss Ellen Flynn, Habs Prep’s next Head of English, and Ms Sonya Anya, our Phase Leader Assistant, have just produced Shakespeare’s Macbeth with Year 6.  

‘For pupils, parents and staff, this academic year has proved to be exceptionally challenging. The dark and brooding cloud of Covid-19 has hung over the school, doing its utmost to thwart so many of our endeavours. However, nothing – not even a pandemic – was going to stop Year 6 from putting on their end-of-year performance of Macbeth…and what a performance it was! 

 As any teacher will testify, putting on a production is a tremendous amount of work and requires almost superhuman levels of patience, resilience, and determination on the part of boys and staff – as well as raw talent, which Year 6 have in abundance! For several reasons, we decided that there should be three productions instead of the usual one. Not only was this more Covid-safe but it would allow the boys in each class greater opportunities to shine. In Spring term, Miss Flynn, Mrs Anya and I ran a weekly Production Club, when, on a Thursday after school, small groups of boys would focus on refining and perfecting specific scenes under the watchful eyes of their teachers. True to her generous nature, Miss Flynn always ensured an ample supply of popcorn and snacks, which, once opened, lasted all of 5 minutes before they were readily consumed!  

During the summer term, rehearsals began in earnest and this is when the boys really came into their own. Miss Flynn and I had devised a strict timetable to ensure that each class had an equal amount of time to rehearse…even so, we were all too conscious of the enormous mountain to be climbed. Being a perfectionist, Miss Flynn, as director, insisted on the highest of standards and every scene was rehearsed and re-rehearsed numerous times. The boys were more than equal to the task, accepting Miss Flynn and Mrs Anya’s precise feedback with good grace and always striving to do better… 

At the Prep School, we always encourage the boys to be reflective learners and so we asked them to record what the whole experience meant to them. Here are some of their thoughts: 

“I absolutely loved putting on the Macbeth production. All the rehearsals were always fun and exciting and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better year six play. Every teacher put so much hard work into this and without them this production wouldn’t have been possible. I also enjoyed studying Macbeth as well as performing it. I will never forget this production and how much fun and exciting it was.” 

“The experience has taught me that things don’t need to be flawless and that I just need to relax when something doesn’t quite go to plan. I learned about how to use pauses to effect, talk slowly and clearly, project my voice and most importantly to have passion in everything you do. I learned how to work as a team and felt a real sense of togetherness when I was out there on the stage.” 

“I am so very thankful to all of the teachers who have made this production possible. Mrs Hall was so helpful with the set and we are extremely grateful to Mrs Valente who designed and made all of the props (daggers, mirrors, crowns and more). Mrs Anya was so helpful with all of the makeup and costumes and I am very grateful to her too. Mr Bloch was a great co-director and was amazing with all the special effects and brilliant ideas. And a huge thank you to Miss Flynn who was the major part of this production. She has always brought so much life and emotion into this play and she has made us so much better actors. I really enjoyed this production and I will never forget it.” 

I couldn’t have put it better myself. The last comment highlights the outstanding contribution that Mrs Valente made in producing such wonderful props, Mrs Hall’s spectacular backdrop which fitted the play like a glove, Mrs Anya’s endless patience and professionalism not only in sourcing the costumes but in radiating a sense of calm professionalism throughout. 

Observing Miss Flynn’s masterful direction of the three classes, it is hard to believe that this is her first experience of directing a Year 6 production. I am in absolute awe of her abilities, as indeed are the boys, who adore her and almost raised the roof of the Prep Hall when I paid credit to her at the end of each production. Like any great teacher, she not only brings out the absolute best in each and every pupil, but she does also so with kindness, humility, humour and huge amounts of patience. The future of the English department at the Prep School is in very safe hands. 

Watching the boys take their final bows at the end of each performance felt particularly poignant and emotional for me. Not only was it my last experience of working on a Year 6 production after 5 years in post, I also felt saddened that parents would be unable to view the boys’ truly outstanding performances in person. Yet, my overall feeling was one of pride – pride in the team that had worked so tirelessly behind the scenes but above all pride in the boys, who learned so much about themselves in the process. In the words of one wise sage, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” 

We cannot wait to share the professional recordings of each of the class productions for you to watch time and again and share with wider members of your family. They will be ready for the end of term. We hope you enjoy the show and send you our warmest wishes for a healthy and happy summer.’ 

Mr Russell Bloch
Head of English & Drama, Prep and Pre-Prep