ISSUE 44 • SPRING 2017 THE LINK SPRING 2017 THE LINK SPRING 2017 Wildhorn’s JEKYLL & HYDE REVIEWED BY MR WILL BURN, HEAD OF ENGLISH MR WYCHERLEy’S PRODUCTION MADE FOR A MOVING AND MEMORABLE EVENING’S ENtertaiNMENT IN OUR LENT TERM SCHOOL MUSICAL. I’ve taught Jekyll & Hyde several times, and often excelled, singing with fierce anger and it has always struck me as an odd book. compelling conviction. Stevenson had to rewrite it, his original draft being so scandalous that his wife urged him to Dan Richardson (U6 C) created not one but two throw the manuscript on the flames. utterly convincing characters before us. His Jekyll was a driven, self-obsessed scientist, In Wildhorn’s hands, Hyde becomes an and his Hyde a murderous villain. Dan has avenging angel, picking off the worthies who played the lead in four very different Epsom dared to slight Jekyll’s scientific ambitions. productions, and in this one he has proved his What’s more, Jekyll (who, in Stevenson’s real measure as an actor, elevating Wildhorn’s novella showed no interest whatsoever in character to a fully rounded, searing intensity. women) is now torn between the incorrigibly virtuous Emma Carew (Hannah Prideaux L6 The Lent Term production is always a sad Wh) and the sometime madame of the Red Rat moment in the College’s drama calendar, as club, Lucy (Anisha Chana U6 Rv). These two we say goodbye to senior actors who have fine actresses brought depth and conviction to given so much to the College during their their roles, especially in a moving duet in the time with us. Another stalwart who gave their second act. final Epsom performance is Anisha Chana, whose characterisation of Lucy was soulful, The strength of this show lies not in the depth captivating and tender. of its character or the memorable musical writing, but in the quickly-drawn sketches Wildhorn’s Jekyll & Hyde is through-composed, which a good actor can bring to life. the music broken only by very brief moments of dialogue, and it was especially impressive Hugo Rossi (U6 C) was repellent as the Bishop to see the performers sustain the drama in of Basingstoke, oozing out of a society ball such a demanding form. and into a brothel. Charlie McLean (L6 H) was all pompous self-righteousness as Simon The band was excellent, led by Mr Graeme Stride, while Lara Wildenberg (U6 Rv) brought Lodge, Director of Music, and the technical something of Lady Bracknell to her role as the crew crafted a brooding, craggy set and formidably-upholstered Lady Beaconsfield. atmospheric lighting to transport us into the The scene in which Jekyll had to face down back-alleys of London. the Board of Governors was particularly memorable; full of dramatic intensity and a Lastly, well done to Mr Rod Wycherley, English highlight of the play. Teacher, and his team of student directors, who inspired cast, musicians and backstage crew to One of the greatest set-pieces of Victorian achieve a memorable and hugely enjoyable literature, Stevenson’s description of Soho evening’s drama. under the ‘first fog of the season’ is unforgettable. Under moody lighting and images of London’s sordid slums, much of the musical’s moral force arose from those elements inspired by Stevenson’s ideas. Living on the streets are prostitutes and street-vendors, beggars and mudlarks, acutely aware of the façade behind which the wealthy hide their desire to exploit and abuse the poor. In this capacity, the chorus THE LINK SPRING 2017 THE LINK SPRING 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL INSPECTION NEW APPOINTMENTS AT EPSOM Bright sunshine greeted The Worshipful The Beret now allows them to become fully fledged THE COLLEGE IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Councillor George members of the CCF. Crawford QPM and Mayoress Mrs Jackie APPOINTMENT OF A NUMBER OF NEW MEMBERS OF TEACHING Hemmings for the Annual General Inspection A highlight came with the new introduction of of the CCF contingent at the College in March. the Inter-Service obstacle course, where the STAFF WHO BRING WITH THEM NEW IDEAS, ENERGY AND Army won. In order to differentiate the three COMMITMENT TO THEIR VARIOUS ROLES. The morning, which was presided over different services the cadets wore their new by Major Ben MacDowell, Contingent service jumpers, with the words LAND, SEA Commander Epsom College CCF, and W01 and AIR on the back. RLS Bonner, commenced with some rousing tunes and a professional marching display The afternoon was taken up with the inter- make this appointment. I believe that Ed by The Band of The Rifles. This was house competition, where pupils completed has the skills, attributes and experience followed by the Guard of Honour general fun tasks such as the log run, command task, to ensure the continued development, salute and inspection, conducted by the Mayor command course, drill, memory challenge, success and happiness of the Lower and Mayoress. assault course, Basha set up and shooting. School community.” HELEN KEEVIL Fayrer took the honours as the overall winners. John Humphreys OBE DL Royal Engineers Chiara Fontaine (W) was the Senior NCO enlisted at 14 years old and served for almost Assistant Head: Pupil Welfare responsible for the rifle drill team who Our cadets were joined for the day by three Ed, joins Epsom from Whitgift, where he 41 years; escaping twice from prisoner of war Alongside the key appointment of Ed, completed a competent display rounded off by delightful Chelsea Pensioners from the Royal has taught since 2011. He joined as a camps and seeing action in some significant the College is pleased to welcome a gun salute firing blank ammunition. Hospital Chelsea who added an air of gravitas teacher of Mathematics, having previously battles while serving in Africa, Egypt, Libya, Helen Keevil onto the School’s senior to the occasion, and some very interesting worked outside the education sector as a Palestine, Germany, Hong Kong, Cyprus, leadership team. A Beret parade was also arranged for the U4 service history. Oman, Aden, Kenya and Northern Ireland. chartered accountant. training squad. Wearing the Epsom College Having served as Director of Welfare At Whitgift, Ed acted as Head of First since early 2016, Helen steps up to the Year (years 6-7), looking after 230 pupils. role of Assistant Head: Pupil Welfare This was followed by four years as Head from the start of the new academic year. of Fifth Form (years 10-11), overseeing 375 pupils, and has been rounded off The appointment acknowledges both the ED LANCE with a further two years as Head of Lower importance of pupil welfare at Epsom – Head of Lower School School (years 6-9), taking care of covering all aspects of pupil safety and wellbeing, online and in the physical 630 pupils. We are pleased to record that, from world – and the pivotal role Helen and September, Ed Lance joins the senior the team have played in leading the leadership team at Epsom as Head of In addition to teaching and pastoral agenda (see page 8). Lower School. responsibilities, Ed also sat on Whitgift’s senior management team with “Pupil welfare dominates all thoughts, Ed joins at an exciting time for Epsom, responsibility for admissions. In this role, at present; it exercises every waking as we welcome our second cohort of Ed oversaw 1,000 applications per year, moment of all schools,” says Mr Piggot. Third Form pupils, and the Lower School managed open events and entrance “Parents want assurances that their enjoys its first year of full entry. Ed will examination days. children will be safe in their chosen school environment, and a school’s spend time over the summer months ability to support pupils in this rapidly Before becoming an important part of the working closely with the current Head of changing digital age is, in part, one of teaching staff at Whitgift, Ed was a pupil Lower School, Alice Martineau, ensuring a the features that define it.” smooth and successful transition. at the school. Thereafter, he attained a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences from the Helen has been at Epsom for just over Among a strong field of candidates, Ed’s University of Durham. 20 years, having taught German, French pedigree and breadth of experience and Spanish, and been a boarding impressed Epsom’s Senior Leadership Ed has a wife, Shelley, who is Deputy Housemistress and Head of 5th Form, Team. The Headmaster, Mr Jay Piggot, Head at Feltonfleet School. Together, they before taking the role of Director of Welfare in 2016. L-R Robert Suttie, John Humphreys OBE, said: “I am delighted to have been able to have a son Henry, aged four. Chiara Fontaine (W) and David Lines THE LINK SPRING 2017 THE LINK SPRING 2017 NEW APPOINTMENTS AT EPSOM IN ADDITION TO THE NEW APPOINTMENTS TO OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM MENTIONED OVERLEAF, THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF STAFF WILL BE JOINING EPSOM COLLEGE FROM SEPTEMBER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEM TO THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY. JAMES DUNN EVA KENNEDY LEAH SKIPPER Head of History Head of EAL Housemistress Crawfurd House Modern Languages Eva has been appointed as the Head of EAL. James is a former pupil of King’s School Eva holds an English Literature and Language Leah is a BA (Hons) graduate in French and Hispanic Rochester and a graduate of Birmingham degree from Stockholm University and an MA Studies from Queen Mary College, University of University, where he attained his History degree. (in TESOL) from Queen’s University, Belfast. London. Currently, she teaches French and Spanish His teaching experience began at The Judd Eva has taught as an EAL teacher in Sweden, and is Housemistress of a large girls’ boarding house School, Tonbridge; thereafter, he moved to Kenya and Ireland.