Creating a unique way to bring the world's most famous bard to the stage, Bow Valley High School students in Cochrane have created a virtual version of Shakespeare in the Park.
Drama and performing arts teacher Adrienne Fossheim was on hand at the Rocky View Schools Board of Trustees meeting Jan. 28 to share the experience of bringing the works of William Shakespeare to the virtual screen.
The students had originally planned on showcasing an outdoor version of the show, according to Fossheim, but quickly adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to create and film an indoor show instead.
Bow Valley High School students perform in the virtual play Shakespeare in the Park. Submitted PhotoThe students created a video documenting the journey of the production, which was shared with the trustees and followed by a question-and-answer period with the students.
The idea for the Bow Valley High School production of Shakespeare in the Park was born out of necessity, Fossheim said, as health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic meant live performances and gatherings were cancelled everywhere.
In preparation for the show, actors learned Shakespearean instruction online and then brought what they learned to the stage. Initially the students wanted to host an outdoor show, but quickly pivoted to create a virtual performance as public health measures intensified.
Fossheim praised her students for meeting the stringent public health measures while adopting the traditional theatre philosophy of "the show must go on."
"The pandemic has changed everything and changed nothing at the same time," Fossheim said. "Drama and performing arts give students a space where they belong, a place where they can be themselves and be part of a community. We need that now more than ever."
The format of the play was a "best of" Shakespeare's works and featured solo monologues and distinct scenes that allowed the performers to adapt to mandatory isolations as needed.
The students selected each of the pieces and were allowed to choose how they would engage in the play, be it as an actor, production hand, director, technical director or other roles. Grade 12 student Sophie Harris served as the production's student director.
Bow Valley High School students perform in the virtual play Shakespeare in the Park. Photo submitted/For Great West Media.The English bard was an especially pertinent subject to tackle, Fossheim added, as Shakespeare also witnessed a devastating pandemic sweep across the globe.
"Shakespeare himself lived during the time of the plague, which was eliminated through strict quarantines and this appears as a theme constantly throughout his greatest works," Fossheim said.
Students performed the show indoors without the live audience they had been hoping for, but created a collective experience by showcasing the play online.
They faced some challenges getting the show online, including COVID-19, corrupted files and other moments of adversity. But, embracing their dedication to their craft, Fossheim said the students were able to bring the play to the community.
Grade 11 student Tanner Gerhardi played the role of William Shakespeare and also composed the musical score for the play. He said he researched the musical styles of Shakespeare's time and stuck close to the era's musical theory when crafting the score to capture the essence of music from the 1500s.
Bow Valley High School students perform in the virtual play Shakespeare in the Park. Photo submitted/For Great West Media.He drew on his experience of being in the band program in grades 9 and 10, but said he had never taken on the challenge of composing a full piece before.
"Had I been doing it alone I would not have been able to do it. Luckily, I had a lot of direction...from Ms. Fossheim, and from Shakespeare himself," Gerhardi said. "I think it's a really interesting thing to do. I think that soundtrack, film scores is never something I've really looked at doing before but it's definitely something I want to experiment with."
The play also included period-appropriate costumes designed by Grade 12 student Shawna Frearson. She played the role of Helena and was head of costuming for the play.
One of her featured pieces was a plague mask made of craft foam, glue and "a lot of paint."
"We did a lot of research to make sure these things were as accurate as we could get them," Frearson said. "It was a lot of work but it was totally worth it. I love how everything turned out."
Bow Valley High School students perform in the virtual play Shakespeare in the Park. Submitted PhotoWard One Trustee Shali Bazuik praised the production and said she was excited to go online to watch and share the play with her children.
"Shakespeare is one of my favourites," Bazuik said. "I remember being in plays and just learning lines and acting. To have the students be part of the production end is unbelievable."
The play was an important learning experience, she said, and provided students with a chance to open up the doors to many career opportunities.
Ward Four Trustee Judi Hunter echoed that sentiment, saying the experience of working on the digital play will help students in the future.
She praised the editing of the play and expressed hope the knowledge the students gained will help them on their eventual career paths.
"Everything that you kids have done is leadership in the future of tech, of the arts, of communications," Hunter said.
