It’s finally showtime! And how exciting for our Oratory Drama cast and crew to receive this message from the 'Blue Stockings' playwright herself, Jessica Swale:

"It's such a delight to know that The Oratory School is staging 'Blue Stockings! Georgina Ring [Oratory Head of Drama] and I are connected because of the Tirabad (now Ufton Court) summer schools, which formed such a fundamental part of my dramatic education... the wise words of Ron, Emma and the team still resonate with me whenever I'm wrestling with how to put a play together as I spent several glorious summers tramping about in a toga or Restoration outfits on the Welsh hillside, learning all about what makes a comedy tick, and how to tell a great story.

As a local girl (I was brought up in Berkshire, went to primary school in Hurst and secondary in Reading) it's always such a privilege to hear that people who are growing up as I did are engaging with my work.

Blue Stockings is a play about the importance of education, of open mindedness and of opportunity-all themes that are sadly more relevant today than they ought to be - and The Oratory is a school which holds those values at its heart.

So, best of luck to you all - break (proverbial) legs and 'let the petticoats descend'!" With all best wishes, Jessica Swale

Jessica Swale's early success came with 'Blue Stockings', her first play, which premiered at Shakespeare's Globe. She went on to win an Olivier Award for 'Nell Gwynn', a play that moved her from the Globe to the West End. Most recently, she has enjoyed major West End success as the book writer of 'Paddington: The Musical.' 

With only a couple of hours left until curtain up, there is still time to grab some last-minute tickets and join us this evening to celebrate Oratory Drama's hard work - see SchoolPost for details on how to book.