'Allo 'Allo - Abbeylands House Play

Abbeylands performance of ‘Allo ‘Allo was an absolute triumph. Not only because it was hilariously entertaining but because of the obvious camaraderie between the actors and the crew. I can say this as I was a fly on the wall throughout the whole process, for the first time in my ten years as Housemaster, the boys requested complete autonomy and who was I to stand in their way! 

There were over twenty boys involved in the production and despite a few last minute panics about learning lines and a change of actor in the final stages, these boys tackled the challenge with an impressive display of determination and perseverance. Milo Clesham made his debut as a Director and he did not disappoint, despite the tricky process of having to critique his peers. Benj Miller, who supported Milo in his directing role, also performed a beautiful crafted performance in the guise of the enigmatic café owner René Artois. Hot on his heels in the acting stakes was the exuberant Freddie Glassborow as Gruber who entertained the audience with flamboyant gestures and throwaway lines. Finn Rose and Josh Bowers were absolutely delightful in their roles as Yvette and Mimi; who would have thought they could perform with so much endearing charm. Not to be outdone in the female stakes were Felix Harvey who played the delectable Helga; the unforgettable and coquettish performance of Edith performed by Freddie Williams and Josh Cook who played the deliciously sultry resistance fighter, Michelle.

Lleyton Sweeney gallantly stepped in at the last minute to perform the role of Crabtree, which he did with true professionalism. Vincent Hagg-Davies and James Reynolds dazzled as German officers and huge congratulations must be made to Finn Grammaticus who performed the steely role of Herr Flick - no mean feat for a young man in only his second term at Sherborne. Ben Fuller amazed us all with his dazzling performance of Bertorelli and showed a hidden talent for acting. He is definitely one to watch in the future.

There were many smaller roles such as the two airmen, played by Joe Bruce and Richard Fagan; a peasant played by Sid Gray and James Atwell played the German soldier in the final scene. Felix Carey made the role of Le Clerc his own and, for many, his occasional appearances throughout the performance were a highlight of the piece. Despite these minor parts, these actors worked hard to craft their respective roles and, despite not sharing the limelight as much as others, they threw themselves into the process wholeheartedly. 

This cast, in spite of their differing ages and acting ability became friends and out of this experience, their eyes have been opened to the benefits of collaborating and working together to bring to fruition a shared goal. It’s hard to put into words the benefits boys get from ventures such as this, but it was obvious when the stage crew joined them in the final stages of the preparation, they too wanted to be part of something special. Ben Wiltshire as Producer was superbly supportive throughout and Nick Burt was one of the most efficient Stage Managers I have ever come across. Robert Kennedy learnt how to operate the sound in the blink of an eye. Finally, Sam Hartley who has been desperate to display his technical lighting skills since he arrived at Sherborne over a year ago, finally got his moment and how he enjoyed it. 

I couldn’t be more proud of this merry band of men. They provided a rare glimpse of warmth and sunshine during the dark days of January and I know that the audience, along with myself, was extremely appreciative of all their efforts. Taking a line from the play, I would like to say to them all… Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once…Congratulations!

Victoria Clayton
Abbeylands Housemaster