By TBHS | Posted: Sunday September 13, 2020
Meet Jakeb Fahey, a Year 10 student doing things differently from many of his school mates.
Jakeb will be playing the part of Fleance in the Aidan Theatre production of Macbeth. How does a 14-year-old get into a community production of Shakespeare??
Jakeb has been a part of the Hana Iti Youth Company. His first production for the Aidan Theatre was in the Christmas pantomime in 2019. He didn’t intend to audition for that show; he went to the audition with a friend and ended up not only auditioning but being selected for the cast, finding his niche in drama.
Rehearsals pre-Covid were twice a week but now due to the restrictions he goes straight from Hana Iti from 10:30-12 to his rehearsals, or to Macbeth from 1-4pm every Saturday. These rehearsals are very different to his time in the TBHS/TGHS Grease rehearsals. He really enjoys his Saturdays and is pleased to be in a production with a talented cast with mostly adults.
From director Gail Tatham, "Jakeb is a valued member of our team. When he auditioned for us, he said he'd been involved in theatre a little before this and had loved every minute of it. This attitude has gained him several small parts in the production, including that of Fleance, Banquo's son. He has taken to stage combat with enthusiasm and has certainly been in the thick of the action!"
I asked Jakeb why he chose to audition for a Shakespeare play instead of going into a youth production as Shakespeare can even frighten some adults. Jakeb’s answer was thoughtful and full if insight. “I think we can all relate to the feelings in his stories. Shakespeare’s characters are complex, and the themes, love, honour, betrayal, envy, jealousy, fear, pride, lust, and grief are all issues that matter to everyone today. His plays allow us to see ourselves through a new perspective and I think it’s great for all teenagers to get involved because it’s something new for a lot of people, it’s a lot of fun and it really speaks about a lot of things all teenagers go through. I know that a lot of people think it is weird and not worth their while, but it is, it really is. The last thing I want to say is that you should never judge something before you try it and Shakespeare and theatre are 2 of those things".
Shakespere’s Macbeth directed by Gail Tatham
28-31 October: Five shows only
Kingsdown Manor
Bookings from 11 September at Newman’s Music Works
