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MCS brings two original productions to the Edinburgh Fringe
Our Drama Department enjoyed an action-packed summer of theatre, taking two original productions, The Orchardist and A Desperate Remedy, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Both plays were written and directed by Alex Thomas as his final productions as our Head of Drama, providing a fitting culmination to his time at MCS. Our talented casts brought both plays to life with a series of memorable performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In The Orchardist, a boy jumps from a thirty-foot oak tree and survives unmarked. It is the first day of the evangelical summer festival, The Orchard, and newcomer Lucas immediately makes an impression on the other children. The younger members of the group begin to believe that he is a miracle-maker, but Benji, the pastor’s son, is unwilling to surrender his assumed leadership so easily. Meanwhile, Ruth, the eldest girl, begins to question whether Lucas’s actions are truly acts of God. As the “miracles” become increasingly extreme, Lucas’s influence continues to grow, with unsettling consequences.
A Desperate Remedy takes us back to May 1606. In the Tower of London, Father Henry Garnet awaits a traitor’s death the following morning. Through his final confession, we follow the Gunpowder Plotters’ doomed conspiracy as Garnet wrestles with his conscience and the indefatigable will of the charismatic ringleader Robert Catesby. As Catesby recruits a group of desperate men, including the enigmatic soldier Guy Fawkes, we are invited to consider just how far someone might go for friendship and faith. Intense, fast-paced and moving, the play offers a compelling new portrayal of one of the most infamous events in British history.
Together, the productions created a powerfully atmospheric experience, drawing audiences into the disquieting setting of The Orchardist and the intrigue and tension surrounding the Gunpowder Plot in A Desperate Remedy. Our pupils demonstrated impressive stagecraft throughout, fully inhabiting their characters while sustaining the pace, energy and emotional intensity of each play. Strong ensemble work, striking costumes and carefully considered staging added depth and authenticity to both productions.
Performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was a real highlight of the summer for MCS Drama, giving our pupils the exciting opportunity to share their work with new audiences and take part in one of the world’s most celebrated arts festivals.
Photography: Andrew Morris Photography
