The nine-year-old from Islington has won first place in a national ‘Shakespeare Monologue’ competition.
Lucy’s compelling piece was Rosaline Capulet Revised which she wrote and performed herself.
She reimagines the voice of Rosaline from Romeo and Juliet “with wit and originality”.
Her performance captivated the judge with its fresh take on The Bard’s world through the eyes of a new and empowered ‘Rosaline’.
The Independent Schools Association competition was adjudicated by actress Eloise Secker who describes Lucy’s portrayal as “inventive, playful and utterly brilliant”.
Eloise, from Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, has appeared herself in television and on radio for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.
Lucy’s winning performance is now featured on the Youtube channel of the Gower School in Islington, where she is a Year 5 pupil.
The school in Cynthia Street gives speech, drama and acting lessons to children aged six to 11, with teachers qualified from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
All 78 pupils who took part in the London Academy examinations last August passed with a merit or distinction.
Principal Emma Gowers is passionate about performance arts in education for all primary schoolchildren.
“It does wonders for a child’s confidence,” she says. “This reflects in their work and self-assurance in the classroom, expressing themselves vocally and creatively.”
That has put Lucy firmly on the path to master classical Shakespeare with her performance of Rosaline Capulet Revised.
Rosaline is a fictional character in Shakespeare’s tragedy, cousin of Juliet and Romeo’s original romantic interest. Her character role is important as the play opens, when Romeo’s unrequited love leads him to try to catch a glimpse her at a gathering of the Capulet family. But he spots another maiden, Juliet, and falls in love at first sight, leading to all subsequent rivalry of two powerful families in 16th century Verona.
Lucy’s reworking of the Master’s unseen ‘Rosaline’ puts a new light on the role in the 21st century.
