Written and directed by Charlotte Newing, ‘Where the Wind Blows’ premieres at the Wynter Bee Theatre on Wednesday. The Sixth Form student studying English, History and Drama is the first at the school to be awarded a playwriting scholarship and her play, being performed by senior students on Wednesday, is her first.
Set in a family kitchen, the production centres around the conflicts of a dysfunctional family’s day to day life and the sacrifices made for the people we love. The idea came to her from reading about a conspiracy theory involving Government bunkers and led to her thinking about who she would be trapped with, in a metaphorical sense.
A committed member of the creative arts community at Gordon’s since she arrived in Year 7, this is the first time Charlotte hasn’t been on the stage for a production. Writing and directing the play, she admits, while very exciting, is very much a step out of her comfort zone.
As well as writing, studying for her A Levels and attending three one to one lessons a week as part of her scholarship, Charlotte is a keen rugby player, turning out for both the Gordon’s 1st XV and Chobham Rugby Club. She holds down a part time job and is also co-directing on the senior production of Amelie! Oh, and she also enjoys entering writing competitions, compiles daily written observations and works on a portfolio of ideas for scripts and plays! Somehow, she manages to juggle her commitments (and a social life!) - “Writing feels like a break for me”, she says.
The play is currently taking up much of her spare time as she edits her work continually after each rehearsal, responding to new interpretations of her characters. The strength of Charlotte’s relationships with the talented and supportive cast and the environment created in rehearsal has enabled the process to be one of collaboration and genuine fun, working with a community she has grown up with for the past six years.
“I’ve done shows since the age of 11 with many of those involved in this project, it feels like working with friends. Even the teachers, I feel I know them so well.”
Charlotte’s gratitude to all involved is abundant, particularly her scholarship leads, “Their dedication and vulnerability have breathed life into the characters and the story we set out to tell… I knew I could trust every single one of them to learn their lines and do what they had to do to make the show a success.”
While there promises to be a large contingent of family and friends supporting Charlotte on the night and looking forward to seeing her creativity reach fruition, Charlotte is philosophical about her opening night: “I will just have to sit there and let it all happen”.
Where the Wind Blows promises to be “relatable in unexpected and meaningful ways” Charlotte emphasises.
There are still tickets available from the box office here for the premiere of Where The Wind Blows on Wednesday 10th December at the Wynter Bee Theatre.
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