The Weird and Wonderful World of Bakarkington Academy

Published on 17 August 2016.

Well my favourite human beans, let me tell you, the end of phase two of The Dahl Project went off with a bang! Oh yes, the end of The Dahl Project Summer School Performance was a triumph. A bonkers, fizz-whizzing, whoopsy-splunker of a performance.

Our summer school this year with Tobacco Factory Theatres just demonstrated how much can be achieved in ten days. On the 1^st August 17 participants aged 13-17 met for the first time, and set off on a creative marathon to make a brand new show. We began with a basic storyline set in a school, taking the characters from the ‘Marvellous Book of Imagination’ created in phase I of the project as source material.

Over nine days the young people devised scenes, stories and narrative arcs for the characters, and ‘The Weird World of Bakarkington Academy’ began to take shape.

We joined Mr. Coolskills, head teacher of Bakarkington Academy and his wonderful array of students; from a pizza loving George, to a super balancer Super Bethan, to a secretary that no-one can understand except her exasperated son alex – a fun and wacky group.  But amongst all this, the dastardly Dr Bl’Ood B. Ottler had a cunning plan, that involved a chicken and a kindness competiton – foul play? I think so!

We were very proud of the final performance at The Wardrobe Theatre, where none of the young people had performed before, but put on a brilliant, professional performance. A big ‘Thank you’ to Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Wardrobe Theatre, our amazing creative team of professionals and young artists who made the show happen, and all the young people involved:

THE CAST

The Staff

Mr Cool-Skills – Head Teacher                                 Roc Waisbord Seras

Dr Bl’Ood B. Ottler – Deputy Head                           Olivia Phillips

Miss Pantyfish – The Secretary                                Maddy Woods 

Mr Clive Gordon – Ofsted Inspector                         Tim Woods

The Students

Harriet                                                                  Sophie Greenwood

Alex                                                                      Cameron Cassidy

Kind Kerry                                                             Lola Brooks Higham

Super Bethan                                                         Casey Plumley

Alfie Gaterson                                                        Liwanu Dodangoda Arachchi

Ikra                                                                      Chloe Heavens

Super Lola                                                            Kyran Hobbs

Francine                                                                Holly Ouvry

Marvlaus                                                               Chelsea Comerford

Sam Shadowman                                                   Ed Waller

George                                                                 J’achur Baker

Rude Rosie                                                            Ellie Harris

Cris                                                                       Zedd Damodred

THE CREATIVE TEAM

The Directors                                                          Emma Williams and Roisin Linton

The Writers                                                            Toby Hulse and Rosie Gailor

The Designers                                                        Kerry Russell and Lydia Higginson

The Production Team                                              Bryony Roberts, Giulia Bianchini and Ethan Duffy

This project would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our funders of which we are immenselt grateful:

Joyce Carr Doherty Charitable Trust

The Dame Violet Wills Will Trust

Maureen Whitmore

Thanks to…

Camilla Adams for photography and project documentation

Matt, Jesse, and Jason at The Wardrobe Theatre

Rusti and Matt at Tobacco Factory Theatres

Lizzy Cummins

The Tobacco Factory Theatres and Travelling Light staff and trustees

The Old Market Assembly

And Barton Hill Academy and Merchant’s Academy Primary for their help in creating these wonderful characters.

To Find out more about the three stages of The Dahl Project see here

Or contact Giuls, giulia@travellinglighttheatre.org.uk