The Perse Sixth Form presents ‘Trifles’
On Tuesday 9 December, the Perse Performing Arts Centre hosted an intimate performance of Trifles by Susan Glaspell – made all the more impressive by the fact that it was entirely student-led. From the first planning meeting to the final bow, Perse Sixth Formers took ownership of every aspect of the production, supported by the PAC team.
The project was driven by Kitty (Year 13) and Emma (Year 12), who committed to the idea of a Sixth Form play early in September and built it from the ground up.
Kitty led as Director, selecting the piece, guiding rehearsals, shaping the interpretation of the text, and overseeing the wider production elements. Emma took to the stage as one of the leads, Mrs Hale, bringing thoughtful detail to character while helping to steer the project’s collaborative spirit from within the company.
The cast made up entirely of Year 12 students, spoke warmly in the programme about what it meant to work in a company led by their peers. Jemima and Clara described it as ‘really amazing’ to spend time with such a supportive group while working towards a shared goal, and Olivia reflected on how exciting it was to watch the show ‘evolve’ in rehearsal.
For Alesya, the experience of working entirely with other students felt refreshingly different: a chance to build something together and share it with an audience. Bethan, who played Mrs Peters, highlighted the opportunity to explore a ‘quiet internal journey’ within a ‘thought-provoking murder mystery’ and the value of doing so alongside a ‘wonderful group of people’.
Behind the scenes, the technical team delivered a calm, professional operation. Milton (Year 12) took on the role of Stage Manager and also operated the lighting, while Tintin (Year 12) led on sound. John (Year 10) ably assisted with lighting design, and front of house was led by Matilda (Year 13) and Georgia (Year 13), helping the evening run smoothly, with Matilda also taking pictures for the programme.
As Kitty noted in the programme, the company’s enthusiasm, hard work and dedication carried the production throughout. She spoke candidly about how much she learned in the process (including ‘how tricky leading a tech rehearsal is!’). Emma echoed this sense of learning and trust: students were given real freedom to build an interpretation of the play collaboratively, supported with props, costume and set, and guided by Kitty’s insight.
Productions like this develop far more than performance skills. Students strengthened leadership, collaboration, creative problem-solving, time management, communication, and the real-world discipline required to deliver live theatre, while supporting one another across acting, staging and technical choices. A huge congratulations to everyone involved for a thoughtful, assured and impressively self-sufficient production.
By David Barrett, Director of Theatre