Either side of Half Term, our Upper Sixth A Level English pupils went up to London to expand their knowledge and understanding of the work of Oscar Wilde. On the Thursday before Half Term we took part in a study day organised by the British Library to mark the symbolic re-issuing of the reader’s ticket to Oscar Wilde 130 years after it was revoked as a result of his trial and imprisonment in 1895. The programme included a tour of the library, the opportunity to examine drafts and first editions of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Grey, and two talks, by the costume designer of the recent National Theatre production of the play and by Wilde’s grandson, Merlyn Holland. The programme provided much valuable food for thought and background detail that will stand the class in good stead for their A Level.

On the Tuesday after Half Term, we were back on the train for a trip to a performance of the National Theatre production of The Importance of Being Earnest, which has transferred to the West End. This production is definitely a contemporary post-Bridgerton one, bringing the issues and characterisation of Wilde’s original script into the 21st century. The cast included a number of very familiar actors, including Stephen Fry, Olly Alexander and Hugh Dennis who brought the play to life with great control and aplomb. It was a really valuable opportunity to see a high-quality performance of the play while we are studying it, and the experience of the production and insights it brought into different ways of interpreting the play will no doubt help our understanding of the text.