Extra time to ‘polish’
St Brigid’s College students are refusing to allow a last-minute COVID-19 lockdown to ruin their chances of taking to the stage this year, as they look to present the school’s first production since 2019.
The college will perform Midsummer Jersey – a re-telling of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, set on the boardwalk of a seaside town in modern-day New Jersey – from September 16 to 18.
The show was originally scheduled for August 6 and 7, with an additional performance added to the rescheduled dates.
Teacher and director Vicki Thomas said despite the change in plans, preparations were progressing well.
“We haven’t been without our hurdles, because we’ve had lockdown and everything else, but we’re very grateful for the fact we’re able to get alternative dates and go into the town hall in week 10,” she said.
Mrs Thomas said students were thrilled to reschedule the production, the culmination of months of work.
“I know the kids are feeling a lot more excited now knowing that it’s looking like it will definitely go ahead and they can polish what they’ve been working on,” she said.
“There’s lots of gaps in between, with rehearsals, and that’s been a problem, but everything has been suffering a little bit with COVID, so we’re not any different really.
“The extra time helps with rehearsals, it helps with getting costumes finished off, it just helps to polish the whole performance, which we’re really grateful for.”
Mrs Thomas said the students had shown significant resilience throughout the pandemic, which had created plenty of uncertainty around everything from learning circumstances to events.
“I’m really, really proud of them and how they’ve remained committed to it,” she said.
“They’re not giving up – none of us are, we’re so determined to make sure this happens. We need it, the school needs it, the kids definitely need it, but I think the community needs it.
“I think it’s so important to see life does go on, that COVID can’t stop absolutely everything.
“We just need to maintain that optimism for a really nice and bright future.”
The college will present Midsummer Jersey at Horsham Town Hall on September 16, 17 and 18 at 7.30pm.
People can visit hthpac.sales. ticketsearch.com/sales/sales event/13543 to buy tickets for the Thursday night show, with other performances sold-out.