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On Wednesday 24th January Year 10 and 11 GCSE Drama students went to Coventry Belgrade Theatre to see Frantic Assembly’s take on Stephen Berkoff’s Metamorphosis. The theatre company worked with poet and playwright Lemn Sissay on their interpretation of the play which featured their signature physical theatre style. The play tells the story of the Samsa family who are struggling to pay their debts and rely heavily on their son Gregor until he is no longer able to work and disaster looms.

Year 11 students will write about the performance as part of their component three exam and Year 10 will use it to develop their skills by answering practice questions and writing about the performance in their PPE exam. It was a great opportunity for students to see a live theatre performance and experience the unique style of Frantic Assembly.

 
The day started with an introductory talk about Oxford and the courses it offers. Sadly, as it was so close to Christmas, University College were unable to offer us lunch in their old hall (think small Hogwarts). However, this gave us the opportunity to visit a second college (Worcester College) where lunch had been arranged, which was to prove an unexpected bonus. Met by the effervescent access officer, we had lunch in their beautiful neo-classical hall built in the 1770s – the massive flapjacks went down very well. We then had a tour of the college, which, being slighter off the city centre, had extensive grounds – both staff and students were blown away by the old quad, the fantastic college chapel (complete with wooden animal sculptures at the end of each pew), the library, the dance studio, the sports facilities and the lake!

We then headed back to University College for a brief tour there, followed by a chance to have a practice at some Oxford entrance exam questions, which tested our powers of deduction, lateral thinking and ability to analyse abstract concepts. The visit ended with 40 minutes free time in the city which, according to preference, was either spent in Flying Tiger, getting a takeaway, finding paradise in Blackwell’s Bookshop or sampling a 54% cocoa single origin hot chocolate with nutmeg and orange at Knoops (other hot chocolates are available – but go here, if you get the chance, it’s brilliant). All in all, a successful trip.