‘The Comedy of Errors’ on Woodbridge School Lawn
This year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn was spectacular, lively and great fun to watch, and our audiences were delighted to be transported to 1970s Brighton as our Year 9 actors performed The Comedy of Errors under the shade of the trees on the Chapel lawn, while enjoying their picnics.
Full of energy, laughter and delight, from the moment they stepped out onto the ‘stage’ the play came to life, and so did our audience – toes tapping and heads nodding to the familiar sound of selected classics from the 1970s.
For those less familiar with the play, The Comedy of Errors follows not one, but two sets of identical twins, separated in childhood and unknowingly reunited in the same city. What unfolds is a whirlwind of mistaken identity, confusion, and comic chaos, as characters chase the wrong people, misunderstandings spiral, and absurd situations pile one upon another – until, at last, everything is joyfully resolved.
As the evening cooled and the light softened, the ‘stage’ truly came into its own; clever use of space and brilliant props meant the action unfolded all around the audience, drawing everyone into the confusion and keeping eyes constantly engaged, wondering what was going to happen next and where the actors might appear from! Wherever you were seated, there was always something happening and something to see. As the setting sun caught and reflected from the props hanging in the trees, it felt rather special to be drawn into this world of theatre.
Our Year 9 students delivered their lines with confidence and clarity, navigating Shakespeare’s language and the play’s intricate, fast-moving plot with impressive ease. The comic timing was excellent, with laughter rippling across the audience exactly where intended, creating a real sense of shared enjoyment between performers and spectators.
Every student, whether on stage or working behind the scenes, gave their all. Their enthusiasm was evident throughout; they looked confident, composed and, most importantly, as though they were thoroughly enjoying the experience. From cleverly staged moments to playful physical comedy, props, costumes and well-timed entrances brought Shakespeare’s world vividly to life.
The combination of choreography, lighting, and expertly handled comedic moments ensured that the performance captured the spirit of Shakespeare’s writing – full of wit, mischief and joyful confusion. It is no small achievement to bring such a complex play to life so successfully, and our students should be immensely proud of what they accomplished.
We would like to thank everyone who came along to support this year’s production, as well as our dedicated Drama department, whose guidance and encouragement have clearly been central to bringing The Comedy of Errors to the lawn in such spectacular fashion.
We also hope that audiences enjoyed the opportunity to take home some unique merchandise created by our Design students, who once again produced a beautiful range of items and programmes. Their work not only captured the spirit of the production but also raised valuable funds for charity.
As always, we are incredibly proud of our students. Seeing the Chapel lawn filled with family, friends, staff and Old Woodbridgians, all sharing in an evening of laughter and live theatre, made for a truly memorable occasion.
