DRAMATISTS have been taking on a cornerstone of the literary canon at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Monkton Heathfield.
Year 11s from Heathfield Community School have been performing Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the medieval mix of satire and realism the author fashioned in a lengthy poem.
The BTEC performing arts students retell the tale of the pack of pilgrims’ journeying from the Tabard Inn in Southwark to St Thomas à Becket’s shrine at Canterbury Cathedral.
Graeme Ryan, Heathfield’s head of drama, said: “It’s an edited version of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, so it focuses on six of the tales in modern English. It’s funny, and each story has kind of got its own character, and of course, a variety of human life is there.”
With the pilgrims recounting their personal stories to pass the time, Chaucer, and now these young players in turn, have the chance to scour the length and breadth of English society, peppered with some very gaudy and bawdy tales.
Canterbury Tales, a performance for Heathfield Community School’s 21st Drama Festival, directed by Jody Crocker, runs until tonight (Thursday).
Tickets cost £6.50, or £5 concessions, and £4.50 for students.
Book at tacchi-morris.com or on 01823-414141.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article