Year 8 and 9 pupils at Hereford Cathedral School recently delivered a captivating four-night run of The Light Burns Blue by Silva Semerciyan in the Powell Theatre.
The ambitious production featured two talented casts, each bringing their own energy and interpretation to the stage. Every pupil involved rose to the challenge, delivering thoughtful and engaging performances that impressed audiences throughout the week.
The Light Burns Blue tells the story of Elsie Wright, a schoolgirl at the centre of the famous Cottingley fairy photographs, which fascinated the public in the early 20th century. The play explores themes of truth, belief, and the power of storytelling — ideas that remain incredibly relevant in today’s world of social media, where narratives can be easily shaped and manipulated.
Director, Mr Martin commented: “The Year 8 and 9 production of The Light Burns Blue was a real treat for everyone involved and I feel so proud of all that both casts achieved. It’s never easy working on a period piece, and with two entirely different casts there were both challenges and breathtaking moments of difference between two actors playing the same roles. The students threw themselves into their roles with great enthusiasm, bringing the story to life in a way that was thoroughly engaging and heartfelt. Their commitment and teamwork were clear from start to finish, creating a vivid and memorable performance. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow with each scene, and their sensitively truly shone on stage. A big well done to all who took part – you should be thrilled with how well it went, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing you develop further as exceptional young actors as you move through the school.”
Huge congratulations to all the pupils involved, and special thanks to director Mr Martin and Mr Abbott for their hard work, dedication and vision in bringing this ambitious production to life.
