The English department places great value on experiencing language beyond the classroom – especially through theatre.
One of the highlights this year was a special theatre day shortly before the Christmas holidays. On a bright but chilly winter day, several Year 12 classes travelled to the Amerikahaus in Munich to watch Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in English – the perfect way to get into the festive spirit, even with exams still ahead.
The performance by the American Drama Group relied on a simple stage design and a small cast – and that was exactly what made it so effective. With a mix of seriousness and humour, the actors brought timeless themes such as poverty, compassion and the true meaning of wealth to life. The musical elements were particularly impressive, and the students appreciated how much atmosphere was created with such limited resources. Their feedback reflected this: engaging, impressive – a lot achieved with very little.
Theatre also remained an important part of Year 13. In addition to a performance of The Great Gatsby, another classic followed in February: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, again performed by the American Drama Group at the Amerikahaus.
As usual, the production made creative use of minimal staging. A small number of actors took on multiple roles, supported by effective lighting and imaginative costumes. The performance was lively and entertaining, with many humorous elements – even if Shakespeare’s language proved challenging for some. Despite preparation in class and a shortened version of the play, a quick show of hands afterwards revealed mixed reactions – a reminder that theatre can be experienced very differently.
There was, however, one thing everyone agreed on: Experiencing theatre in English brings the language to life.