Students from St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington, delivered a powerful performance of ‘Brain Play’ at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe as part of the National Theatre’s prestigious Connections Festival.
Written by playwrights Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and Paul Sirett, Brain Play explores complex and timely themes such as single-parent families, family trauma, young carers, and mental health.
Through a creative blend of live action, puppetry and narration, the production highlighted the importance of seeking support from friends during challenging times.
19 students from Years 7 to 12, who make up part of the St John Plessington Players drama club, came together to bring the piece to life, with 18 performing on stage and one student taking on a vital technical support role.
This unique opportunity saw younger and older students collaborating closely, showcasing not only their talents but also their maturity, empathy and teamwork.
The Year 7 cast members made a memorable impression as the ‘Brain Chorus’, confidently navigating intricate medical terminology and demonstrating remarkable stage presence.
Year 11 student Hannah Mazier made an impressive directorial debut, taking on the majority of the directing responsibilities for the production.
Hannah commented, “Directing ‘Brain Play’ was a fantastic opportunity, taking creative liberties of creating scenes and telling the actors what the scenes mean and how I feel they should be set.
“Working with my fellow student actors was great to look at it from a different viewpoint, knowing what it’s like being on stage, and setting them up with new movements and creating things such as a train and working on choral speech with Year 7s. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to do it again.”
St John Plessington has a long-standing history with the National Theatre Connections Festival, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. The festival champions new writing and provides young people nationwide with the opportunity to perform brand new plays.
The school’s continued involvement in the festival highlights its commitment to the arts and to giving students a voice on important societal issues.
Headteacher, Mr Peadar McLoughlin, said, “We are immensely proud of our students for the dedication, creativity and professionalism they demonstrated throughout this production. Their performance was a testament to their talent and teamwork, and once again, the St John Plessington Players represented our school and community with distinction.”
Andy Moor, CEO of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, added, “Opportunities like the National Theatre Connections Festival are invaluable in nurturing creativity, confidence and collaboration among our young people.
“Well done to everyone involved for their outstanding contribution to this year’s festival. They really used the arts as a powerful platform to explore complex themes and to spark meaningful conversations.”
Imagw: Students from St John Plessington Catholic College delivered a powerful performance of ‘Brain Play’ at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe