Echoes in the Pavement: Middle Schoolers Tackle Grief with Grace

In March, a talented cast of over 20 Middle School pupils brought Jack Thorne’s poignant play, Burying Your Brother in the Pavement, to life in a well-received production. The play thoughtfully delves into the complex themes of grief, family dynamics, and the search for identity, presenting material that the young actors handled with impressive maturity and sensitivity.

Over three performances, the production skillfully balanced the play’s inherent emotional depth with moments of sharp humour, creating a truly engaging experience for the audience. The cast delivered compelling individual performances, seamlessly blending with committed ensemble work to ensure a dynamic and captivating presentation.

“I found it to be very playful in its nature, despite the sensitive themes of grief, identity and family relationships. I decided to use frozen images and chorus work as a key motif running throughout the show, creating a more abstract interpretation whilst highlighting the carefully crafted characters that are seen at various moments in the play. The cast were great at immersing themselves into this concept, with confidence and enthusiasm.” – Director of Drama, Connor Abbott

The show also boasted a unique element: an original score composed by one of the pupils, further enriching the production’s atmosphere. We caught up with members of the cast during their rehearsals to get their perspectives on the play. When asked how they thought the audience would feel after watching, Thomas suggested, “By the end, they will likely feel sombre, but it is also a brilliantly funny and upbeat story.” Alex added, “I hope they feel quite conflicted, the play is quite naturalisti,c but some characters are larger than life and the play has a surreal kind of quality. It is a play that is clearly influenced by different corners of society.“

When tasked with summing up the show in three words, Thomas offered “Exploration, brotherhood and emotions“. At the same time, Sam succinctly stated “Traversing through grief,” and Rayan described it as “Comedy, compelling, unpredictability.“

With its thoughtful performances, innovative staging, and the unique addition of original music, Burying Your Brother in the Pavement proved to be a successful and memorable production, clearly showcasing the dedication and considerable talent within the Middle School.