b'| EDUCATION | 5 Star Review for Blackheath High School students and their 5 STARSproduction of the absurdist classic play Rhinoceros at the Edinburgh Festival this summerat the Edinburgh Fringe TRhinoceros, by Eugene Ionesco, is a quirky he Sixth Formers at Blackheath High School GDST recently returned from the Edinburgh Festival having put on a production of Eugene Ionescos classic absurdist drama, Rhinoceros at The Space on the Mile venue in August. absurdist drama thats as relevant today as it was The company of 13 girls from Years 12 and 13 werewhen written shortly after the war.directed by Blackheath High School drama teacher, Cath Day in five performances during their week long stay.On the Comedy.co.uk website, reviewer Jack Verity They also found time to enjoy other shows and soak upsaid, I congratulate the Director and all involved as this the atmosphere of one of the worlds longest-establishedabridged version of Ionescos classic highlighted both comedy and arts festivals. team and individual performances, going on to award the Award-winning writer and composer of the 2015 sell-outproduction a stunning 5 stars.show UKIP! The Musical Cath Day, drama teacher at at theIn the play, written in 1959, the central lead character school, said: Our Sixth Formers wanted to perform a classic(Brenger) is surrounded by people who talk in clichs play which would challenge them as performers andrather than meaningful communication, having lost their resonate with modern audiences. Were living in turbulentability to think for themselves. Platitudes like Well, of all and uncertain times, with a worrying rise in populism andthings! or Its never too late! are repeated ad infinitum by intolerance. Ionescos play has never been more relevant orthe rest of the cast who, in the absence of independent more necessary. thought, are steered by simple logic towards absurd Our Sixth Formers wanted to perform aclassic play which would challenge them as performers and resonate with modern audiencesconclusions. In times such as these, Ionesco BLACKHEATH The streetssuggests, racism and fascism can readily HIGH SCHOOLof Edinburghemergeas they did in Europe just before STUDENTS STEAMare alivethe outbreak of World War II.AHEAD WITH BESTwith creativeBlackheath High School places huge performers and EVER RESULTS mime artistsemphasis on encouraging creativity to Blackheath High Schoolthroughoutflourish among students. Drama is a very GDST has achieved itsAugust.popular subject at the school, with over best ever GCSE results.a third of students opting to take LAMDA With a 14% increase incourses as part of their studies. Drama the number of 8/9 (A*)not only develops communication skills, grades over the past 5collaborative working skills and leadership years. The school wasskills but drama students develop an especially pleased with the phenomenal resultsBLACKHEATH HIGH SCHOOLachieved in both ArtVanbrugh Park and Science, with 90%Blackheath 7-9 (A-A*) and 81% 7-9SE3 7AGBlackheath High(A-A*) in the subjectst: 020 8853 2929School Sixth Formersrespectively. e: info@bla.gdst.neton stage at The Spacew: blackheathhighschool.gdst.neton the Mile, EdinburghTHE RIVER MAGAZINE|Autumn 201937'