Head of Drama - Edition 19 - 2023

The Junior Play: The Alchemist - A Quest

In 2006, I adapted Paulo Coelho’s remarkable bestseller, The Alchemist, for the stage. An allegorical fable centered on Santiago, a young person on a quest seeking identity and integrity, the theme was perfect for a young adolescent cast. However, Coelho’s book clearly resonated with adult audiences too - over 150,000,000 times!

Initially performed by the Years 8-10s of 2006, the production made quite an impact on cast and audience alike. Subsequently revised and performed again in 2019, the story gained traction again; perhaps its message of the need for imagination, resilience, grit, and persistence was as relevant as ever! The experience of the pandemic saw us all facing new parameters - and new fears - so the play seemed timely once again.

The Year 11 class who undertook the role of Production Team and I agreed The Alchemist would be a good option, despite its season falling within five years since its last staging. In response to this, I revised the play further. The emphasis fell on the notion that while each of us is 'good enough' as we are, a journey through discomforts, and our responses to others, will likely forge us into being a more complete person.

Further, this iteration focused on a theme thread in Coelho’s original work, that being to journey along our paths avoiding disturbing the peace of others. The 'alchemy' lies with finding the balance while embracing the challenges, a balance difficult to achieve! And this final version of the play was, it turned out, more entertaining than preceding productions - possibly the addition of fourteen songs to the original list of four had something to do with this!

Our Year 11 Musical Director, Alex Cole, capably managed our remarkable band of Years 9-10s, “The Cracked Crystals” to create a score of great cover versions of songs selected to underscore a range of plot points in the narrative. The addition of ten dance numbers to the production saw Year 11 Choreographers, Charlotte Burt, Caitlin Dyer, and Ebony Smith, work with a remarkable five strong troupe, Diamonds & Pearls, to create sublime moments of dance.

Old Scholars Gracie Greenrod (’22) and Immi Beattie (’22) seamlessly and capably stepped into Drama Assistant positions made vacant by Dana Cropley’s (’15) departure to the UK and Amy Bower’s (’15) increasing schedule in the fashion industry. Nonetheless, Amy assisted our Year 11 Costume Designer Darcy Mancer with great advice.

A superb Year 11 Team of Assistant Directors, Charlotte Insanally, Brad Jackson, and Annabelle Solomons, and Acting and Music Coaches, Juliet Tainton and Aidan Nixon – Burns provided great mentorship for younger cast members just as Year 11 students had for them in previous years. This ongoing mentorship is one of the great strengths of the Junior Play, one providing students with a great deal of agency; in short, they virtually run the show!

As ever, Murray Centre Coordinator Paul Taylor, and Technician John McCartney supported Stage Manager Ellie Harradine, LX and SFX with Sarah Koukourou, and Set Design by Sam Williams. Makeup and Hair Design and management is always a logistical nightmare, but Lilyana Hails managed the task very professionally indeed!

Production Managers Caitlin Dyer and Emily Eastwood experienced and managed the significant logistical challenges that go with any large, multidisciplinary production with great aplomb. However, what is notable is the great sense of camaraderie and achievement the Years 8-10 cast members have expressed post-production.

The spirit of Paolo Coelho’s inspirational book is very much alive in the 2023 JP cast and crew. And in that spirit, the students of Westminster Drama and I extend our very best Christmas wishes to you and your family.

John Doherty
Head of Drama