A FORMER pupil has gone back to her old school to perform a play about homophobia.
Sami Cornick left RSA Academy Arrow Vale in 2003 and now heads up Round Midnight Theatre Company using drama to tackle such thorny subjects as sexually transmitted infections, extremism, cyber bullying, online behaviour and knife crime.
And on Friday she was back in Matchborough, with her company, to perform a play with the backing of Redditch borough council.
“We’re doing something called ‘Straight Talking’ about homophobic bullying, part of the LGBT History month,” said Sami, who’s mum and dad still live in Matchborough.
“We do a lot of theatre in education but also run workshops on everything from the Tudors through drama to doing a scouse accent.
“My real love is comedy and in three weeks time we’re off to China to do a big comedy show out there.”
Drama was something Sami had always wanted to do and after leaving Arrow Vale aged 16 she did a creative arts course at Stratford College.
From there she went on to do a drama degree at Wolverhampton University before getting involved with Birmingham-based Round Midnight.
Now 30 years old and managing the company, she admits she’s living the dream.
“I always hoped that one day I’d be running my own company – Round Midnight started in 1992 and with the directors getting involved in other projects they’ve handed it over to me, which is fabulous,” said Sami.
Funding for the shows comes from a variety of sources like the Big Lottery Fund, Children in Need and in this case the borough council.
“Straight Talking is a comedy, it’s engaging and it’s funny and the students get to see the issues played out in front of them rather than it being on a piece of paper. After the performance we have a chat with them,” said Sami.
“Theatre in education also allows us to bring up topics which might be difficult to raise in the classroom – it’s a different approach.”
