By Minna W,  Year 10 Journalist Leader

On the evening of the 3rd May, Notting Hill Classics, Music and Drama students gathered together to travel to the West End to watch the beautiful folk opera Hadestown.

Hadestown follows the two love stories of Orpheus and Eurydice and Persephone and Hades, and is replete with sensational songs played by a brilliant band, a New Orleans nightclub inspired set which doubled as the Underworld, and a plot so bittersweet and tragic that it kept every audience member captivated, from the show’s very first opening moments to the
heartbreaking end scene. The relatively large cast also included Hermes, the Fates and workers in the Underworld, who all brought the story to life with mesmerising acting.

Originally written by Anaïs Mitchell, the play uses Greek myths cleverly as an allegory of the evils of capitalism, with Hades a power-hungry Industrialist, transforming the Underworld
into an factory of hard labour, sweat and toil, much to the dismay of green-fingered Persephone. The performances were all generally strong, particularly Eurydice, whose
Midlands accent gave authenticity to the role. Also impressive were the three Fates, whose close harmony work was very moving. Personally I felt there were a few slightly tense
moments when Orpheus struggled to reach his extremely high notes during supposedly the most beautiful song ever written. Despite this, the excellent music carried the play along to
an emotional conclusion, and the audience gave a standing ovation.

Thanks so much to the teachers who organised it and accompanied us – it was an unforgettable evening and I strongly recommend it to everyone; whether you are fascinated
by classical myths, dramatic arts, or musicals! Even if none of the above applies to you, I know that this musical will ignite your curiosity and send you on a whirlwind journey into the
world of Ancient Greece.