More than 20 pupils and former pupils from Ashville are set to take to the stage at the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time in the school's 150-year history.
The Harrogate school will take its home-grown rock musical ‘Beth to the world's largest arts festival for five days later this month.
The 70-minute production is inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth and has been written, created and brought to life by Ashville's Performing Arts team.
It reimagines the classic tragedy with Macbeth becoming ‘Beth, an ambitious female warrior whose pursuit of power, destiny and desire drives the story.
The production follows an open-air performance staged on Ashville's 70-acre campus last summer.
Leading the cast is former Ashville pupil Gabby Salvin, who is currently training at Leeds Conservatoire and will take on the title role.
Ashville's Director of Performing Arts Karl Boyd said:
“The show combines a powerful rock soundtrack, fast-paced choreography and dynamic staging to create a theatrical experience that is both intimate and intense.
“What makes Beth unlike any Fringe offering is its immersive sonic architecture. Using state-of-the-art spatial audio, the entire soundtrack is broadcast directly to each audience member through wireless headphone technology.
“Audience members will hear every whisper in every corner of Glamis Castle, every slice of the dagger in the Queen’s bedroom, every disembodied cry upon the heath — creating a theatre experience that places viewers directly in the thick of the action.
"The result is theatre as lived experience: close, immediate, and eerily physical.”
Head of Ashville Rhiannon Wilkinson said:
“We are incredibly proud of the pupils and staff involved in this production. Taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time is a significant achievement and reflects the creativity, imagination, commitment and ambition of everyone involved.
“'Beth is a bold and innovative production that showcases the breadth of talent within our school community. The pupils have embraced every aspect of the creative process and have worked tirelessly to bring this original interpretation to life.
“The Edinburgh Fringe provides an outstanding platform for young performers and we are excited to see our pupils share their work with audiences from across the world.”
The cast will follow in the footsteps of former Ashville pupils who have gone on to careers in the arts, including Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter OBE, after whom the school's drama studio is named.
Ashville's performers will stage ‘Beth between 24th and 29th August at theSpace@Venue 45. Tickets cost £10, or £8 for concessions.
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