Senior School Production 2025 - 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'

Senior School Production 2025

Wow. Beautiful work presented tonight by I&S students. Great nuance in the actors' choices, enhanced by the work of the tech team.

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, we held our third-ever Senior Production, with students from Years 11-13 adapting Bertholt Brecht’s classic play, ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’. Set in 1930s Chicago, the play uses a cauliflower land battle to mirror and satirise Hitler’s rise to power. Students took on multiple roles in this energetic and exciting production, particularly enjoying the challenge of embodying a gangster! You can view the full cast and crew list.

The production was an absolute delight, utilising the specialist lighting rig in the drama studio to great effect. The staging incorporated student films into the action using projection – an impressive feat! The entire lighting, set, costume and stage management was led by the student Tech Crew, who had a tough job during this complex production. It was great to see several Year 7s get involved with the technical side during their first term at school.

The acting was absolutely superb throughout. Special mention must go to Oli Jukaj (Year 11), taking on the lead role in his first-ever performance on the Isleworth & Syon stage. A keen student of GCSE drama, it was fantastic to see Oli take the leap and give an outstanding performance – especially considering the number of lines he had to learn!

The event was extremely well-attended, with some audience feedback included at the bottom of this piece. We particularly enjoyed seeing some of our drama alumni come back for the production! Pictured right are Raymond Anum and Taheen Modak (at either end, click to view full size) with current students Isaac Shaw and Oli in the middle. Raymond and Taheen are now both professional actors after graduating drama school – and they performed this very place for their vocational examination piece over ten years ago! A fantastic full circle moment.

Well done to each and every one of the 33 students involved, as well as ex-student Kye Page who came back as assistant director. We continue to be so proud of the performing arts in our school and will do everything we can to encourage students in pursuing their passions – despite national trends.

Here is some audience feedback:

"The set was fantastic, acting incredible and accents amazing!"
"I think was my favourite I&S performance so far - thank you."
"Excellent acting and lighting effects by the cast and crew team."
"Loved the intimate staging. Great energy."
"A truly incredible performance - absorbing, captivating and terrifying!"
"A wonderful performance and a very original stage design. Well done to all!"
"Congratulations to all involved. Another example of the variety of talent and skill - thoroughly enjoyed the performance."

"A superb production. The performers showed such confidence. Great access and wonderful physical performances."
"The play was really enjoyable and was a great time to spend the evening. It was obvious that a lot of effort was put into the show."
"Five stars!"
"Terrifying, intense, impressive!"