Await the play of Kes by CIS
First it was pantomime, but for this time’s senior production for the semester the students of the Colombo International School will see students revert to a more serious genre of theatre.
The students from the ages of seven to 10, will be taking on Barry Hines and Allen Stronach’ play- The Play of KES. The young cast tackles the complex themes in the play including those of bullying- a universal issue in all schools. The play centres around the consequences of bullying and how a child who is a victim of bullying can train and love a pet hawk- a kestrel bird. The play challenges kids to look deeper into bullying- its awful repercussions on individuals and more so- how it affects others around them.
The setting is a school, where the staff are the stereotypical but with a few exceptions. At the heart of the play is Billy Casparis who is a withdrawn young boy who has been in trouble with the police for stealing. Bullied by his elder brother, Jud, and alternately ignored by his ineffectual single mother, he has been written off by his teachers and ostracised by his peers. But he has a secret life. Inspired by his absent father, who abandoned the family when Billy was six, Billy has hand-reared a kestrel chick and trained her. He may not have any exam passes, and his employment prospects may seem poor, but he is clearly a born falconer.
Neither the story nor the production soften the blows that befall Billy. Yet, by keeping the children so visible at the heart of the story, the playwrights constantly remind the audience how casually the future is squandered. The bullying PE teacher and the stuffy headmaster who uses his cane not his brain are contrasted with the English teacher who recognises the uniqueness of each of his pupils.
The play goes on the boards of the CIS auditorium on May 9 at 7.30pm. Tickets and box plan are available at the school reception.