On the evening of Thursday 8th January, seven hugely talented students performed together in the first Senior Drama Company performance of ‘Constellations’ by Nick Payne.
The Senior Drama Company is an extra-curricular ensemble offered through the Electives programme for students in Years 11-13 with exceptional dramatic talent, potential, and passion for theatrical performance.
The company rehearses once a week and has worked tirelessly throughout the autumn term on a reimagining of Nick Payne’s ‘Constellations’.
The play follows Marianne (a physicist) and Roland (a beekeeper) as they explore their romantic relationship, using quantum multiverse theory to present infinite possible outcomes for their connection – from falling in love and marrying to heartbreak, infidelity, and facing Marianne’s terminal illness – all while repeating scenes with different choices and results, reflecting love, free will, and the impact of tiny decisions. The play jumps through these parallel realities, showing how one small difference, like a shared love of honey, can alter everything, making it a poignant look at love, loss, and possibility.
Originally a two-hander, this production reimagined the play using three couples instead and interwove a monologue, knitting together snapshots of the couple’s lives across an array of possibilities of Marianne and Roland’s fates.
The play is a complex and thought-provoking piece, consciously chosen by Mrs Ryan, the show’s director and Head of Drama at Cheadle Hulme High School, for its ambitious nature.
Mrs Ryan explained; “the opportunity to stage this beautiful but complex play was a huge honour. I knew ‘Constellations’ would require high quality performance talent to challenge our most talented performers and it was absolutely the right choice.”
Audiences were treated to an unforgettable evening of funny and thought-provoking performances from the seven-strong cast.
Mrs Ryan reflected upon the success of both the project and performance afterwards; “The whole process has been a joy to direct, the students have been so professional throughout rehearsals and their hard work and dedication was undeniable – they excelled! The final performance showcased some astounding emotionally nuanced performances in scenes that traversed between the hilariously awkward first-time date, to dynamically painful break-ups. I couldn’t have been more proud of their passion and dedication on stage.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us, we hope you enjoyed the show and look forward to seeing you at the next one!