King's School Rochester Weekly News
Oh! What a Lovely War Production
Pupils wowed the audience with their stunning and moving performance in Oh! What a Lovely War. Performed over three nights (plus two matinees) pupils shared a different perspective on war, telling the truth from the soldiers’ point of view—using song, satire, and dark humour to reveal just how messy, painful, and human war really is.
Directed by OR Sam Hall, our very own Sweeney Todd, professional Music Director Sam brought his experience from the West End working with children on "School of Rock" to develop the score. The original version in 1963 was about the First World War and styled like an old-fashioned end-of-the-pier seaside show. This version was reimagined to reflect the conflict in Ukraine and poignantly included the voice of one of our Ukrainian pupils Siia who went back to Kyiv last year - a reminder to the cast that war is still close.
Our production was set in a war-damaged theatre - half-destroyed, half-under renovation. Like history itself, it’s a space being patched together, not yet whole. Costumes are incomplete. Performers are unprepared. Nothing quite fits—and that’s entirely intentional.
This design reflects a deeper truth: no one is ever truly ready for war. Time and again, those caught in conflict describe the experience as disorienting, surreal, and fragmented—like being half-dressed, out of place, and expected to carry on. Our theatre under renovation becomes a metaphor for that emotional state: broken, uncertain, but still insisting that the show must go on.
So while we honour the original’s use of clowning, song, and satire, we’ve placed it within a more fragile, fractured world—one that mirrors not just the past, but today’s unsettling present.
Sweet News from the Hive!
At King’s School Rochester, our bee-autiful keepers Mr. Smith and Dr. Dyer made a beeline back to the garden at Satis House to check in on our honeycomb heroes after a long winter. They were absolutely buzzing with excitement when they discovered our bees were busy, buzzing along and multiplying in true hive style! Not only were they busy pollinating early spring blooms, but they were also hard at work collecting nectar for their honey. We even caught a sweet glimpse of King’s honey, gathered for the very first time, and we are all abuzz with anticipation for our harvest in July. Stay tuned, it’s going to be the bee’s knees!
Easter Egg-travaganza
A huge thank you to the PPS for the Easter Scavenger Hunt, which raised £610.25 for the PPS Fund. The PPS informed us that “the afternoon went really well and we had some wonderful positive feedback - though some parents found it a little challenging!”. They also managed to arrange for the Easter Bunny visit children in Pre-Prep and Prep with a chocolatey surprise, as well as make the early start for the staff training day worthwhile with a delicious staff appreciation breakfast!
House Sport
Lent Term ended with several House sporting events. Our first House football tournament was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon with six pitches, 16 teams and 48 matches. Windy conditions didn’t dampen spirits and some great football was played, culminating in tournament wins for Storrs in the Junior competition, and Whiston in the Seniors. A fiercely competitive House netball tournament saw teams donning face paint with wins from the same two Houses but this time with Whiston claiming the Junior trophy and Storrs the Senior trophy.
April 2025