As Literacy Week came to a close, the MYP 1 students brought the house down with their hauntingly beautiful performance, Whispers—a poetic tribute to myths, legends, and the enduring power of storytelling. 

“This show is a love letter to storytelling and its history,” said Ms. Yousef during the opening remarks. “Did you know that stories didn’t always have clear heroes and villains? And that movies used to be colorless? And before that, they were silent?” 

The performance featured four eerie and enchanting tales, each inspired by a myth or legend. There was a vampire who traps his real estate agent in a crumbling castle, a tormented werewolf hiding a secret from the woman he loves, a young girl accused of witchcraft, and a skeptical man whose beliefs are shattered when he encounters a ghost. 

For many of the students, this was more than a dramatic challenge—it was also a linguistic one. As Ms. Kurmanova explained, “Our Language Acquisition students are performing today in their second or third acquired language. So, it was an extra challenge—not only to understand the myths, but to bring the characters to life through voice, gesture, dialect, and emotion.” 

The production was also a chance for students to apply what they learned during Interdisciplinary Week, when they practiced blending language skills (both English and Chinese) with performing arts. 

From black and white makeup to a subtitled silent scene, every element of Whispers pulled the audience into a timeless world where folklore breathes, and shadows speak. As the final scene unfolded and students took their bows, it was clear they had done more than perform—they had transported us.