Journey’s End Review

Sixth Former Molly Steele reviews this term's Senior Play:

Journey’s End, directed by the Mr Lofthouse, portrays the story of 12 men who are involved in a military operation that began the Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. From the moment you entered the assembly hall you were transported back in time: the realistic set and the wartime tunes gave us clear indication, before it even began, that this was going to be a memorable show. And it was.

The show was filled with moments of tension, laughter, and tears – all set to the daunting backdrop of WWI frontline trenches. All of those who starred were exceptional, in particular Seb Swansborough, who portrayed Stanhope – the captain who had to deal with the repercussions of leading his friends in warfare, while battling his own internal struggle, as well as Luke Plummer who portrayed Raleigh, a new officer who was thrilled to be working alongside Stanhope.

Possibly the biggest joy of this show was getting to watch some new faces be on stage and truly excel in their respective roles: Sam Rose, Archie Somers, Charlie Gaisford, Archie Phillips, Ben Williams, Ben Mackay, Dougie Alexander, and Gus Brockwell. These names, combined with the expertise of Mr Lofthouse and Mr Crossman and the creative genius of Chris Pellet and Nathan Etherington made for an exceptional show.

Journey’s End is a story of friendship, bravery and sacrifice. The poignancy of the show will have resonated with all who watched and were involved with it. Congratulations to those, on and off stage, who were involved in this remarkable show.

Molly Steele

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