Arabian Nights Summer Drama at Canford

Over three performances, including a matinee for local junior schools, the main summer term drama production in the Layard Theatre at Canford transported the audience to the East in a fabulous version of the tales of the Arabian Nights.

A bedtime story with a difference! It's wedding night in the palace of King Shahrayar. By morning, the new queen, Shahrazad, is to be put to death like a thousand young brides before her. She has the one gift that can save her: the gift of storytelling.

With a mischievous imagination and silver tongue, Queen Shahrazad paints a dazzling array of stories and characters, summoned forth from strange and magical worlds populated by giant beasts, singing trees and crafty thieves. Can the power of storytelling save her life?

The production delighted the packed theatre of parents, pupils and staff. The Canford actors brought each story to life against the backdrop of a vast raised set with clever lighting that took the audience from the King’s bedroom up into far-away lands of imagination and intrigue. Each story portrayed a different message to entertain the King, and save the Queen.

One audience member commented:

I was amazed with how the pupils rose to the challenge of this ambitious production. Some were on stage for the entire performance and the dialogue was quite challenging at times too. The set was fantastic and the rising steps and stage areas provided a perfect backdrop to transport the audience to each story being told.

Arabian Nights was a feast for the eyes and ears and congratulations to the excellent performances on stage and behind the scenes from all pupils involved.

More photos from the show are available to members of the Canford community on Canford Media (school login required) from the link below.

Find out more about Drama at Canford here:

Drama at Canford