Triumphant Performance of Emil & the Detectives!

This week has seen pupils from the First and Second year take to the stage in our Lower School Production of Emil & the Detectives! Carl Miller’s adaptation of Erich Katsner’s 1929 novel, originally staged by the National Theatre in 2013, is a riotous romp through the streets of 1920’s Berlin! 

When Emil (Jasper R) is robbed on the way to Berlin by the dastardly Mr Snow (Jack S) he has to team up with the Detectives, a ragtag group of children led by Toots (Elliot W). The group scour the city, encountering goats, the police, bureaucracy, and adults who would rather kids were ‘silent and still’. At its core Emil & the Detectives is all about independence and ingenuity, that the ideas and opinions of children have as much value as those of adults. Something Emil’s mum, Ida (Amelia-Grace D), comes face to face with when she attempts to end Emil’s adventure.  

The company have worked exceptionally hard to bring this world to life, moving rapidly between the citizens of Berlin to newspaper sellers to puppet roles and even musical numbers – brilliantly composed by Mrs Richards and Dr Brammeld, and performed live with Meera V and Arabella S-L! 

A production this ambitious wouldn’t be possible without the tireless work of our technical department, so a special thanks must go to Mr Baddeley and Mr Shakespeare. Who, alongside Matthew D and Alex I, have helped the company put the finishing touches on this madcap adventure.  

I’m sure you will join me in wishing the cast a triumphant final night, it has been an absolute joy to bring this world to life with them and I believe we have seen the start of many successful drama careers at Caterham!