When it comes to putting on a show, Year 13 Performing Arts students at The Sixth Form College, Solihull are hoping to finish on a high when they put on a production of “A Matter of Life and Death” next month.
This production is a Knee-high Theatre Company adaptation of the 1946 Powel & Pressburger classic film. The play, which is peppered with humour, music and song, first premiered at the National Theatre in 2007.
Students will be taking on roles in all areas of this production, including acting, costume, make-up, props, set and promotion and this will be their final assessed piece of work for the BTEC Extended Diploma Performing Arts qualification.
The production itself promises to be hugely entertaining for audiences. The production is set in 1945. A young airman jumps to certain death from his burning plane. His last words are to a girl he has never met: “I love you June. You are life and I am leaving you.” Following an angelic blunder, caused by a classic English ‘pea-souper’, Peter Carter miraculously survives and finds June in the flesh. But things are not so simple. To stay alive, Peter is forced to take himself, and the heavenly authorities, to the universal Court of Appeal.
Emma Holden, Performing Arts teacher at the College, comments: “There is so much potential with this script and the students are working hard to bring it to life and put their own stamp on it. This production will be the culmination of two years hard work for these students and the final opportunity that staff, fellow students and parents will have to see them in action at the College.”
Tickets are on sale now for this production, which is showing on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 June at 7.00pm. They cost £6 for adults and £3 for concessions and are available online for existing students at www.parentpay.com. Anyone else interested in attending is asked to call Bev Bishop on 0121 704 2581 or email bbishop@solihullsfc.ac.uk.