Adolescents Do Shakespeare - A Midsummer Wet Dream

As the school's performance of ‘A Midsummer Nights' Dream’, by William Shakespeare, with an authentic 80's make-over, has ended, we take the time to remember the plays and scripts that were rejected by the Drama Department and congratulate those who made it happen.

Not all the plays and ideas that were brought forward were even considered; many lacking the qualities that all good school performances must have. However, we managed to get our hands on some material rejected by the Performing Arts Department.

Unaccepted play ideas were adapted, each with different twists that just didn’t make for the final cut. A Romeo and Juliet adaptation with a 2000bc gangsta twist was suggested, but was turned down early on in the selection process as no one had any idea what a 2000bc gangsta was. A version of Matilda by Roald Dahl was mashed together with his other works for a book loving, chocolate making, giant peach play. This was dismissed, as it was completely ridiculous (as is any Roald Dahl). There was a script of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’, the script stolen from the hit west-end show (quite literally), however this was also dismissed as the lead's impression of a special person was deemed 'inappropriate'.

Eventually the Drama Department settled for A Midsummer Nights' Dream with an 80’s twist, incorporating all the things you need for a good school production; a group of highly extroverted people to be loud, a play within a play to show how highly skilled they are, a love story to make everything satisfyingly awkward and of course, the Head's speech. This year's play was outstanding (sorry, my bad, it was 'good'), the hard work of teachers and students alike bringing the play to life. The Head's speech was also nearly non-existent, there was no speech at the end to ruin the evening with, and so it was a good time for all who went. We at the Hampstead Trash congratulate those who made the play happen and hope next year can be just as 'good'.