For a second year in a row Portsmouth High School pupils took to the stage at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester as part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival. This year the School performed the popular comedy "Much Ado About Nothing".

The focus of the festival is very much "telling the story" of the plays with as much innovative movement and use of the space as possible, along with simple props and, if appropriate, live music. 

Portsmouth High School had a cast of 20 Year 10 pupils with a technical team of 6, and Drama Scholar, Beth Watton, co-directed with Mrs Farnhill.  Miss Hainsworth, one of the school’s English teachers also choreographed the two dances, a lively salsa at the ball, and a real wedding extravaganza at the end - Ricky Martin's "Living the vida loca" - and live music was also provided on stage by a number of pupils. 

Lauren Farnhill, Drama teacher at the school ,said, “This was a wonderful opportunity for the young cast to perform on a professional stage, and the technical crew had the opportunity to work directly with the theatre's technicians in the lighting box.”  

Prior to their performance in Chichester, the cast were delighted when Jack Bannell (nephew of our Chairman of Governors, and fresh from his performance as Benedick at the Hackney Empire for the National Youth Theatre) dropped in to their rehearsal to give some good tips about comedy performance and bringing the text to life in an inspiringly energetic way.  He was able to direct the cast in several scenes, as well as show them strategies for warming up before a performance and relating to other cast members when on stage.  

“Much Ado About Nothing”  was directed by Mrs Farnhill – but there were two younger Farnhills also taking part in the Festival.  Jessica Farnhill (PHS 1988-1999), who has just completed a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts at the University of Winchester,  is "Venue Director" at the Theatre Royal in Winchester.  Katie Farnhill (PHS 1986-1999) is now teaching English and Drama at St. Edmund's School in Portsmouth, and directed a mixed year-group cast in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" who performed on the same evening as our own pupils.