By Ms Jung (English Teacher)

Twenty Upper and Lower Sixth IB and A Level English Literature students took part in an inspiring English Literature trip to London on Wednesday 15th October.

The first stop was the British Library, where students explored the Treasures Gallery, the 16th-century printing press and the King’s Library. Split into two groups, led by Mrs Johns (English Teacher) and myself, they enjoyed discovering the many fascinating exhibitions throughout this impressive building.

Gracie B (Upper Sixth) shared: “I absolutely loved our school trip to London! We explored different exhibitions at the British Library, where I learnt about the first printing press and saw some of Jane Austen’s notes, as well as her (shockingly tiny) glasses.”

Ruva M (Upper Sixth) added: “I also enjoyed exploring in and around the British Library. Seeing how massive it was was quite surreal, and the exhibitions were fascinating, especially Jane Austen's scripts and glasses.”

In the afternoon, the group visited the National Theatre for a thrilling performance of Hamlet. Gracie said: “I really liked observing how the National Theatre slightly altered aspects of Shakespeare's original play, and I found myself completely enraptured by the entire dramatic storyline.”

Rosie F (Upper Sixth) reflected: “It was incredible seeing the diverse and contemporary take on Hamlet. I particularly enjoyed the set pieces and the construction of the stage, as it was so impressive seeing it all move seamlessly.”

Ruva added: “The most memorable moment for me was the opening party scene, as Hamlet began his monologue while the rest of the cast froze in time. It gave a new perspective on his thoughts and relationships.”

This thought-provoking performance will benefit our Upper Sixth IB students as they begin studying the text, and the trip proved inspiring to us all in its focus on culture, history, literature and performance.