Pupil Jurors Hold Adults to Account

The Trials is set in the near future, the climate emergency is gathering pace, and the older generation is being judged.  The jurors are children, but are they delivering justice – or just taking revenge?

The chilling blame game, which pits the generations against one another, premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022 and is written by award-winning writer Dawn King. It is directed by Ms Bedford, Head of Academic Drama, alongside Assistant Director and L6 student Gigi Donald.

Ms Beford explains what drew her to the project: “The Trials is uncomfortable, urgent and real.  It shows what real theatre can do and its one of the most important pieces I have read and shared with a group of like-minded students and staff. Every rehearsal has been a pleasure and the students have been more committed than any I have worked with in my 20 years of teaching.”

The production will run over two nights, with the adult defendants being played by a different member of staff for each performance. Philosophy, Religion and Ethics teacher Mr Winterburn, who plays Defendant 1, says: “This play isn’t about the grown-ups.  It’s about the kids.  It’s about our kids.  It’s about the future we are creating for them and the responsibility we have to not leave it to them to pick up the pieces crated by our apathy and arrogance.”

All pupils will be encouraged to get involved with LEH’s first ever Green Day next month, Tuesday 11 June, which is being led by the Eco Squad, a student-led group who strive to raise awareness about how to live more sustainably.

In addition to being encouraged to wear a splash of green, they will be invited to write pledges about how to make smart choices to help reduce our carbon footprint and cut the waste going to landfill.  Everyone in the LEH community is being encouraged to show their support, by donating to the World Wildlife Fund here: Make a Donation to WWF Today | WWF UK.