Spotlight on London: a theatrical adventure

By Alyssa Leong

The setting and the characters

During EMB@RC week this year, some Year 10 and 12 students went on a trip to London to experience the theatre. Prior to going there, we had many preparations to do, including packing and getting a form of cashless payment, which is a long and nerve-wracking process involving a lot of forms, phone calls and visits to the bank. I got my debit card only 2 days before we were set to go on the flight. I couldn’t imagine going on a trip with no cash. But despite this, we were all excited to meet our friends, stay together for 7 days and have some fun in London.

Scene 1

On 1st November, we met at the Hong Kong International Airport at 6:30 pm, getting ready to take the 13-hour flight to London. When everyone arrived we went into rows for a group photo, and another was taken with all the parents. Then it came time to leave, and sad goodbyes were exchanged. Though there was some sadness and nervousness, the atmosphere was still one of excitement while we ate dinner. The airport was a scene for the extended RCHK community to enjoy dinner before we then finally got on the plane and set off.

Climax

The theatre shows were a pivotal part of this trip. We saw a show every day except for the first and visited several different theatres. London has more historical theatres compared to Hong Kong. In London, the theatres we went to were often designed in a very grand way, with elaborate carvings and decorations made of stone and shining metals, with even the classy railings being in an old style, in contrast to most theatres in Hong Kong which are modern and minimalist. Yet the theatres were not lacking in technological advancements, as the first show (Stranger Things) featured complex sound and lighting effects as well as video (which was shown on a giant screen). We also watched some other new plays such as Oedipus (a new adaptation, by Robert Icke) and A Face in the Crowd. However, some of the plays were historical in subject (Hamilton, Les Miserables) so the plays can be said to be a mix of the old and the new.

I enjoyed all the plays as they were all unique in their own way. For example, Stranger Things used a mix of video and acting, and interesting special effects. The sound effects were at a piercing volume and managed to engulf the whole theatre, creating a more immersive experience. Also they used video at the very start to introduce us to the play, and also to introduce Act 2. The editing was very professional and created the feel of an old recording, putting us in the setting. For Les Miserables, the play used a different (but still effective) way to immerse the audience, with projections of a dramatic oil painting at the start setting the mood of the French Revolution in 1789, and the powerful songs, which rang with compelling emotion, thanks not only to the music but the beautiful performance of the actors.

Subplot

We also did some sightseeing, including going on the London Eye, shopping in Covent Garden and watching the Changing of the Guard. Every day was packed with events and travelling from place to place. Being in London was a new and interesting experience, and there were many surprises along the way. Many people were amazed by the amount of historical architecture. By simply strolling around, we could encounter various historical structures. We explored the different shops eagerly as there were different brands there that we never saw in Hong Kong. We got to see and take photos at the most famous places in London, from the London Eye to Trafalgar Square. Due to this variety of activities, we were exhausted every night (especially as most of the shows took place in the evening) but luckily we had a fairly late time to leave the hotel (usually around 9-10 with the earliest time being 8 in the morning).

Although, that’s not to say we didn’t have any breaks as we would usually stop for snacks in between breakfast and lunch.

One exciting point about this trip was that we got to stay with only our friends and teachers for an extended period of time, without family taking care of us all the time. This was a positive experience because we had more time to enjoy with friends, including buzzing and chatting about the plot and characters after each show.

The Finale

A key part of the trip was that it required us to be more independent as there were just 3 teachers for 32 students. There were many unexpected incidents such as injuries, illnesses and possessions going missing. But I guess that’s part of life. I would recommend the trip to students who are interested in understanding the culture of the United Kingdom, learning more about Drama and developing new friendships.