March 2015 OMNIBUS

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Omnibus December 2013

A Theatre Trip to see ‘The Changeling’

OMNIBUS The termly newspaper of Wilson’s School

Linden Hogarth tells us about his experience of seeing ‘The Changeling’.

On the 30th of January, a selection of sixth formers and staff from the school descended to the Sam Wanam-aker Playhouse for an exhilarating performance of ‘The Changeling’, Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s 1622 Jacobean thriller.

Having read and studied the play as part of the A2 English Literature ‘Gothic’ module, I was familiar with the characters and events of the play. However, I was completely taken aback by the intensity of Dominic Dromgoole’s production, brimming with menace, mad-ness and murder.

Lurking in the shadows of The Globe, the candle-lit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse provided the perfect backdrop for ‘The Changeling’. The performance began with a plunge into complete darkness, before faintly illumi-nated faces flitted across the stage, delirious whispers circulating the room. The atmosphere oozed danger and somehow everything felt more intense, and utterly claustrophobic.

The plot revolves around deceit and manipulation. Beatrice-Joanna gets involved in a murderous bid to kill her betrothed,Alonzo de Piraquo, in order to pur-sue Alsemero, a man of shining virtue, yet completely two-dimensional. Beatrice turns to her repulsive servant Deflores for assistance. However, this daring attempt to defy the social order of a deeply patriarchal Jacobean society only serves to haunt Beatrice, as she is forced to pay the ultimate price for her deeds - her virginity.

Hattie Morahan’s reaction to Deflores’ lecherous ad-vances perfectly capture the complexity of her charac-ter. She couldn’t help but exploit Beatrice’s stark duality, luring the audience in, wide-eyed and desperate, before shocking them with her delicious cunning, completely unfitting of this outwardly prim daddy’s girl. “I’m forced

to love thee now”, she finally admits to Deflores, as he protects her innocence in a scheming plan to fulfil his lust. Yet, there is a sense throughout of a primal sexual attraction towards Deflores, a perfectly gothic concoc-tion of disgust and desire. She is a character of fraught emotion, intensely aware of her liminal state.

To top it off, this mayhem is accompanied by a comic subplot set in a madhouse, most likely modelled on London’s notorious Bedlam. The madhouse is run by Lollio, a comic character though all too happy to use his whip on the inmates if need be, who lusts after Isabella, the wife of his boss and social superior, Alibius. Yet this apparently disparate plot (only coalescing with the main plot when Vermandero, Beatrice’s father, requests the fools to dance in his castle) serves as a powerful comment on the true nature of madness.

The performance gave me a much better understand-ing of the play. The production dramatised moments that tend to be left out in class. The wild howls of the asylum inmates; the lecherous advances of both Lollio and Deflores and the gory murder scenes stayed with me for days after the performance.

‘The Changeling’ is a play where laughing and gasping fail to act in mutual exclusivity, producing a wonderfully frightening masterpiece.

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NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS The Headmaster writes.

It’s an odd confession, but a true one. I do not own a pair of trainers.

To be honest, I don’t think I have owned a pair of train-ers since I was at school; no doubt in part a result of my relatively limited sporting prowess. I have always admired sportsmen and women, but alas, I do not have their talent. Subconsciously I think it’s possible that I see trainers as a reminder of something I am really not very good at (much like when adults see a recorder and shiver at the thought of the noises they once produced themselves) and therefore I have steered clear.

And yet this week, I took delivery of a pair of something quite similar to trainers – a pair of walking shoes. I had never heard of Merrells before, but I am now the proud owner of a pair following expert guidance from Captain Grant. A Sixth Former wittily suggested that I should call them my Streeps. If you don’t understand the reference to a well-known actress, then don’t worry. I shan’t be taking up his suggestion.

The reason for this purchase of course, is for the upcoming Marsden March (which is likely to have taken place prior to the final publication of this term’s Omnibus) in celebration of our quatercentenary. Leading the almost seventy strong school contingent on this sponsored 14mile walk from the Royal Marsden Chelsea, to the Royal Marsden Sutton is very important to me for a number of reasons. First and fore-most, I think I should lead by example. The school’s motto is NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS (not for oneself, but for all) and by getting involved, I am making it clear that I believe in

the values of the school I serve. I am also showing that like I encourage the boys to do, I am willing to push myself well outside of my comfort zone.

Equally importantly, raising money to help tackle cancer is something the school has a long attachment to and a long record of. For many years I have read out the names of prizes endowed in honour of students who never finished their Wil-son’s career as a result of various forms of the disease. I have often wondered of the pain that their parents must have felt at the time and no doubt still feel. Some years ago now, I vis-ited our long serving and well regarded Head of German, Mr McDonald, in the hospital just before he passed away. He has not been the only one on the staff to valiantly battle the dis-ease, but ultimately lose the fight, since I joined the school. Statistics dictate that he is unlikely to be the last. There are more personal reasons. Like most families, cancer has taken its toll on mine. My maternal grandmother died of the disease before I was born. I have relatives who have taken advantage of the care at the Marsden and are fighting the disease as I write. They certainly wouldn’t be able to fight at all without the Marsden.

That something good can some of something so awful is one of the many ironies of life. The Marsden March gives the school community a chance to show that people are at the heart of what we do. That our motto is more than a motto, that it is a way of life. And of course, it is also a chance for people to laugh at me looking uncomfortable in a pair of walking shoes and a frankly horrendous purple t-shirt, in sharp contrast to my trademark three piece suits and patent leather shoes.

At the time of writing I know at the very least we will be handing over £7000 to the Marsden as a result of various charity events. I think Edward Wilson would be proud of his school.

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THE ROYAL MARSDEN could not effectively prevent cancer or destroy tumours with procedures such as chemotherapy that we have today, but instead worked on trying to put the patient in as much com-fort as possible by trying to reduce impact of the debilitating symptoms of cancer. Dr Marsden then collected informa-tion on the tumours and worked to try and understand the disease, making the Free Cancer Hospital the first hospital in the world to be solely dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer. After over a century and many changes to its loca-tion, the Free Cancer Hospital became the Royal Marsden in tribute to its founder in 1954, and by 1962 growing demand for its services meant it opened its second centre in Sutton. .So, what does the Royal Marsden do for patients today? The wealth of research done at the centre has allowed more and more technologies to be developed and used in cancer treat-ment. These include the CyberKnife – a piece of equipment that can fire highly concentrated radiation beams to destroy hard to reach tumours, with an accuracy of 0.5 millimetres, meaning damage to healthy tissue is minimised. The Da Vinci S surgical robot is another pioneering piece of equipment that can help create the greatest amount of precision during surgery by allowing a surgeon to control a robotic arm with a highly precise knife, as well as having access to enhanced 3D imagery to make the accuracy of cuts better. There are many other cancer treatments at the Royal Marsden such as the latest MRI scanners, PET/CT scanners, new Critical Care Units and more. I recommend visiting the Royal Marsden website for more information on their treatments at ‘www.royalmars-den.org.’ However, the incredible technologies developed at the Royal can only continue to be made if people like you and I decide to help the charity.

How can you get involved? Anything you like! A sponsored quiz, run, bike ride, almost any activity can help raise money for the Royal Marsden. The annual Marsden March is a great way to get involved as well, allowing people to get together and have fun while raising money for charity. You can also donate money at ‘www.justgiving.com/teams/Wilsons400’ a great website that makes sure your money goes to the char-ity fast, as well as giving the charity an extra 25% of what you donate in Gift Aid. The Royal Marsden is a fantastic cause, and the work done there will affect everybody, as everyone will be touched in some form by cancer during their lives. Even here at Wilson’s one of our own students has been treated at the Royal Mars-den Centre in Sutton and has received excellent care.

When Edward Wilson and William Marsden both founded their respective organisations I doubt they had any idea of how their work would blossom over the years, and how many people it would touch. Even now the fruits of their labours are still growing, watered by the fantastic people that are in-volved and help sustain it. The Royal Marsden and Wilsons are very alike, they’ve had their share of struggles but, crucially, they’ve had their share of successes. And what successes they are. But if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s that these successes only come about because of the roles that the community plays, the small acts that add up to big things. So do a small act today. Anything. Who knows, it may continue to leave a legacy 400 years from now.

By Matthew Kayanja

This year we celebrate Wilson’s 400th anniversary. It’s been a long journey full of struggles, from the years of WW1 and WW2 to the difficult move from Camberwell to Wallington, yet in the end we prevailed and still stand strong as a school today. Mirroring this journey is one that thousands have to take every day that and is just as tough and full of hardship, but not everyone who takes it has a happy ending. Those who have cancer may well feel that their journey is 400 years long and it takes a special kind of support to make this jour-ney as painless as possible. Luckily, the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity offers some of the best cancer treatments in the UK, and hopefully with input from sponsors such as Wilson’s School they can continue to develop even more new and pioneering technologies. The Royal Marsden charity has two cancer treatment centres: one in Chelsea (next to Stamford Bridge) and one just down the road in Sutton. However, the Royal Marsden charity start-ed on Cannon Row in Westminster in 1851 when its founder, Dr William Marsden, founded the Free Cancer Hospital after mourning the loss of his wife to cancer. The centre

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CLASSICS CLUBHamza Mir tells us all about the benefits of Classics Club.

Classics Club is one of the many clubs at Wilson’s School. It is held every Wednesday lunchtime and starts at 1. 15 in Room 5. Classics Club is run by Mr. Lawson, Head of

the Classics department. In Classics Club, we always have a presentation by someone. However, the presentation is always related to classical things. People have given presentations on The 7 wonders of the world, the Roman Empire and the destruction of Jerusalem. These are just 3 of the amazing, informative presentations that people make. Anyone can give a presentation. It doesn’t matter what Year you are in, as long as you’ve got some interesting information to

share with the club, then you can go ahead. Around 10-11 people attend each time and when the club is over, Mr Lawson is generous enough to give everyone some free chocolate! But if you are not interested in Classics, you should still give it a go. You never know, you might like the presentations and find

them interesting. So, here are 3 reasons to come to Classics Club. Number one, it is a good and fun way to spend lunchtimes. Number two, you can learn from the presentations. Number three, you get free chocolate! If you are interested, please come to Room 5 on Wednesday lunchtime. We are keen for new members and will be

happy if come along to join us.

Quangminh Bui-Le on the HOTT club.

The HOTT club is run by Mr Lawson in Room 5 dur-ing Friday lunchtimes.

The club plays a table-top war game in which you lead your troops around the board in order to destroy the enemy general. Your moves require lots of planning, but it won’t ruin the fun - it’s a bit like chess, but with more freedom of movement and more rules. The game has many different troops: from Heroes to Dragons to Canons (Artillery). The troops and tables were all designed by Mr Lawson who has put in a lot of hard work and detail.

There was even a day dedictaed to it! HOTT day was on Friday 20th February. It started at 8:30 am and ran on until 2:30 pm. It was a very special day for us as it allowed us to try lots of new things we didn’t have time to try during the normal lunch breaks at school. First we all tried to play with more than one command. However, the most important part of the day was when we all played on one big table.

After lunch, we all assembled our armies for one big battle. The battle involved three people attack-ing and three defending. It was great fun as we got to work together and we had bigger armies, so we could make more tactical plans. It also helped to introduce us to more of the rules that wouldn’t normally affect us during our play. This showed us how to quickly change our tactics - espe-cially after an enemy attack. In the end the Attackers

HORDES OF THE THINGS

won by destroying the commander in chief who leads the army and if he dies you lose the game. Even though I lost, it was great fun and I looked forward to it all week. I’m really glad that I went.

If you feel like you can come up with good strate-gies or enjoy playing table top games, then please come along! If you enjoy chess you may also like it, as it can be thought of as quite similar in terms of strategy.

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HANDWRITING CLUB

Charlie D’Imperio asked Miss Lambert some questions about Handwriting Club.

1) What inspired you to start up handwriting club? My inspiration is the need for clear, neat handwriting particu-larly for exams. Also, handwriting is becoming a lost art and too many people use computers.

2) What was your handwriting like at school? Teachers said it was too small, but still neat.

3) Do you have any pen recommendations?I recommend a fountain pen, but I am left handed which means I always smudge my work when I use them.

4) Is handwriting an outside of school hobby for you?No, but calligraphy might be interesting!

5) Which staff members have the best handwriting? Miss Waterhouse because she teaches art.Miss Tyler and she is also very arty.

6) Which 3 teachers would you invite to handwriting club?

The handwriting club members chose…-Dr Meddelton-Mr Englefield-Miss Ford (some ambiguities- she wrote “limited” which clearly looked like”united”)

7) What are your thoughts on typed up work?It was more unusual when I was at school to type things up on the computer. It was the expectation that it must be handwritten.

8) Have any students had such bad handwriting that you couldn’t read their work? Yes, I have highlighted sections where I couldn’t read it and unfortunately couldn’t give them the marks. It is really enter-taining when they can’t read their own handwriting.

9) Any other thoughts?A handwritten letter shows you have spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it. I am definitely a fan of thank you cards NOT emails.

10) What have you got planned for Easter? Over Easter, I am marking Year 12 and Year 13 coursework. I am not going away until the May half term when I am travel-ling to Cornwall. I love little praline chocolate eggs HINT HINT.

SPEED OPTIONS 2015

Fiachra Gallagher tells us about his Speed Options experi-ence.

On Friday 30th January, Year 8 students were all given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of GCSE courses, through three minute ‘speed sessions’, with Year 10 students. This provided us with a perspective we had not yet explored - that of the pupil’s.

When we (8G) entered the hall, we were asked to choose a partner whom we felt shared similar interests regarding their likely GCSEs. After a bit of debating and the occasional groan, we each had a partner - some looked happier than others. Next, we were provided with a sheet on which to make some-notes: I didn’t have a pen, so it looked like Callum was going to be my PA. With sheets in hand, we were ready to begin. Mr Hudson stationed each pair at the various tables around the hall, with each one allocated a different subject. Once we were all settled, the process started. Immediately, the hall was filled with noise as each Y8 tried to attain as much knowledge as possible, and each Y10 responded accordingly.

Time ticked quickly: you couldn’t afford to drift off topic. Cal-lum and I, propped up opposite Business Studies representa-tives, were quickly in motion. Although Callum didn’t have a particular interest in the subject, his pen was nonetheless scribbling away, and the box was soon full. Not long after, 3 minutes was up. A bell sounded, and we moved clockwise. We were greeted with two Classicists, and a stack of Latin textbooks. I had never really considered Latin as a genuine possibility; Callum no doubt had. He was instantly interrogat-ing those across him about the workload, coursework, and difficulty. With the realization that he couldn’t both listen intently and write, I took the sheet and began making notes. Soon, Callum’s questions and the Y10s answers were suc-cinctly, albeit rather messily, recorded. When the distinctive bell ring was heard again, we got up and moved on. This process continued and as time passed, pens scribbled, and preferences crystalized. With sporadic cries of “Cool” and “Sounds good”, it was clear how beneficial Speed Options was for students.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH TEACHERS

In the spirit of World Book Day this month, Charlie D’imperio and Rohit Prabhu asked teachers: 1. What book are you reading at the moment? 2. What is it about? / Are you enjoying it?3. What kind of books do you like to read? 4. What are you doing for the Easter holidays?

Ms Morin

1. ‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt2. It’s won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2014. I’m 100 pages in and I find it well written. The plot is gripping and you want to know about the little boy, Theo.3. Forensic Thrillers4. I’m going to France to see my family and hide eggs from my sister’

Miss Waterhouse

1. I don’t know its name, but it was a random library book2. It wasn’t a good choice, but that’s the beauty of a library: they’re all free. However, I am a big fan of the Hilary Mantel novels “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up The Bodies.” They are more quiet as there are no big death scenes unlike “The Tudors,” which is another hit TV show like Wolf Hall currently is. The Tudors is bigger and more exciting, but nevertheless it is interesting how I like both but in different ways. They are both very sophisticated and draw you in.3. Historical novels. Thriller Books e.g Joe Nesbo 4. I do like Mini Eggs very much. I have nothing planned.

Miss Williams

1. ‘We’re All Completely Beside Ourselves2. It’s interesting. 3. Drama4. I’m going to Toronto

Miss Gray

1. ‘Black Gold of the Sun’2. It’s very interesting. It’s part auto-biography, part travel writing, part political discussion3. 19th century English and Russian literature, but I read the Russian literature in English because I can’t read Rus-sian4. I don’t like easter eggs, and I look forwards to a tradi-tional roast lamb with my family.

Mr McLaughlin

1. I’m not reading anything2. I like reading as it allows you to immerse yourself in something. 3. Sci-fi4. I’m going to play with my newborn baby and deco-rate the rooms in the house

Miss Atwell

1. ‘On Chesil Beach’ by Ian McEwan 2. It’s very slow-moving: only one day is covered in the whole book. I thought I’d hate it because I like action, but the author observes the characters in a very interesting way.3. Thriller and short stories.4. Iceland trip and then I intend to sleep, see friends and go to the theatre

Miss. Tyler

1. ‘The Lifeboat’ by Charlotte Rogan2. I’m really enjoying it because it raises some very interesting moral questions. 3. It depends on my mood. 4. I’m going to the South of France.

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CREATIVE CORNER

The Bloodiest League’

‘A desecrated arena awaits…’

The premier lads, the crème de la crème, the Last shot at the leagueAre standing upon the blushing earth.Trickles of sweat are slipping from sodden cheeks,‘Last taste of water, cos matches like this always end with usSwimming in wine.’

A referee’s whistle, piercing the veil of silence,And they step up to face the music.The music of the arena, the blasts and the booms,The shrieks and the screams,Ringing in the ears, even after silence falls.

The lads are on the go, hurtling drunkenly into the mist, A mist that can envelop those who existed only Moments ago.A mist of disguise and concealment, where not only the players, butIdentity itself can Disappear.

There is no clean-cut grass,For murk and waste run free in this realm.The manager is absent,For he is observing, some distance away, in well-deserved comfortDo not despair, for he is applauding how The earth is of such a lustrous crimson.

‘Now, back to the game…’

The strikers are advancing, more prominently the newest lad, His name, dammit, forgot it.But the girls call him Dougie, for they love him so… But then we all have a soft spot for the good-looking ‘uns,Don’t we?

Left-backs, midfielders, right wingers, battered by the tackles Of the opposition, Red cards are accordingly gave out,But it is the tackled that are to pay the ultimate price.Some scream in pain, some cry for their loved ones,As they sling up their boots and abandon their play to an invisible applause.

Ah! The ball has slipped from the opponent, a falter in their defence, Dougie’s got hold of the ball; it’s like Ypres all over again,And he’s dribbling, oh, a dribble to envy, a dribble to desire, A little chip up, a skill or two, it’s like a cat and mouse chase…

He shoots…

Goal! 1-0! Beautiful!

Dougie is roaring with all glory, his face sporting a patriotic red,Fireworks are launchedInto the air, he can smell the gas,But he is interrupted from his celebration, not noise, but Silence.He has been abandoned; his friends have begun to swim in the wine…

Leaving the pitch by himself…Walking alone…

He slowly collapses into sludge…Ever so…Slowly…

The mist takes it all.

This term, students in Year 9 wrote poetry on the theme of War. Below is Rohan Chakraborty’s poem:

Omnibus March 2015

March 2015 OMNIBUS

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Transcript of March 2015 OMNIBUS