As part of the ‘Bridge to A2’ programme and approach to their Russian History unit next term, the Year 12 Historians took part in a drama workshop on the life and work of Maxim Gorky, at JAGS, and then set off to the South Bank to watch the play, ‘Philistines’ in performance at the National Theatre.

The workshop was a riveting affair, organised and presented by the Assistant Director from the National, James Grieves. Under his supervision, the girls took turns to read through excerpts from the script, analyse Gorky’s intentions and act out sections in the school theatre. This all gave a whole new dimension to watching the professional performance in the afternoon as the girls recognised ‘their’ sections of the play.

The play itself, set at the turn of the twentieth century, ‘strains and seethes with the sense of a society falling apart and revolution just around the corner’.  It turned out to be just what was needed to introduce the comparison of Tsarist and Communist Russia that will engage the History group next year. With a final question and answer session with James, after the curtain came down, and as the staff at the National prepared for the evening performance, we felt we’d gained invaluable insights into Russian society in the most enjoyable way possible.