Stars on stage: Upper Sixth receive Jury’s Special Award at French Drama Festival

Five Upper Sixth students won the Prix Spécial du Jury (Jury’s Special Award) at King Alfred School’s Festival de Théâtre Francophone for their performance of Ionesco’s La Cantatrice Chauve.

They faced a strong field of 13 other schools in the event, which took place on Thursday 7 March, with the pieces being staged ranging from classical tragedy to modern comedy.

Jean-Patrick Vieu, Teacher of French, who helped they boys prepare their performance, said: “Their quirky take on the absurdist play produced the first genuine laughs of the evening and was a clear favourite.

“Our students’ piece was eccentric, funny and very successful – they really made it their own and showed no end of creativity.”

The cast featured Will Lacey (PH5) and Sam Collins (FH5) as Mr and Mrs Smith, Tom Horrell (OH5) and Sam Edwards (PS5) as Mr and Mrs Martin, and Giles Oliver (SH5) as the Chief Fire Officer.

It was a happy return for Tonbridge to the Festival de Théâtre Francophone, now in its ninth year, as a previous Upper Sixth group won various awards at the competition last year. A few of this year’s cast also won at another competition of this type, staged at Charterhouse, when they were in the Lower Sixth.

The best play prize went to a very creative take on a classical tragedy monologue; there was also a best unique theatrical experience prize, won with the performance of a modern comedy extract.