The King's School had the pleasure of hosting Stefan Smart, a former English and Drama teacher turned professional actor, for a special assembly performance of "I AM MARK."
About "I AM MARK"
Stefan Smart has captivated audiences across four continents with his solo, word for word dramatization of Mark’s Gospel. His recent success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and his extensive tour of UK prisons have further solidified the acclaim for this compelling performance.
"I AM MARK" is an attempt to recreate for a modern audience what it must have been like for the first hearers of this story, some 40 years after the events described. Because there were very few books to speak of, people would have been used to storytellers like Stefan not just reciting, but enacting the text as a full bodied drama, with all the characters and situations brought startlingly to life. Pupils from senior and some primary classes were invited to imagine themselves as among those very first hearers of this story, as they experienced a brief excerpt from the production, covering the last days of Jesus’ ministry as described in Chapters 14-16 of the gospel. The performance ended with a time for pause and reflection, encouraging pupils to be silent rather than applaud, “so that the full weight of what they have witnessed could be reflected on and savoured”.
Engaging Q&A Session
Following the performance, senior pupils participated in a Q&A session with Stefan, where he also shared his testimony. A personal favourite question from the session came from a pupil who asked, "What is your favorite book in the Bible?" Stefan’s answer, with a smile, was, "Um, Mark!"
A Unique Learning Opportunity
Pupils studying GCSE Religious Studies were given the further opportunity to delve deeper into the themes of the performance, enhancing their understanding of the book of Mark and engaging in theological discussion with Stefan. .
For more information about "I AM MARK" and BEHOLD! Productions, visit:
We Tell Stories…
BEHOLD! Productions
+44(0)7767 983831
We are grateful to Stefan Smart for sharing his extraordinary talent and inspiring our pupils with this unforgettable experience.
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