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Musical drama sheds light on ancient Egypt

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Visitors could be forgiven a moment's disorientation if St Mary's Canossian College looked more like an Egyptian palace than a girls' school in Jordan.

The transformation was due to imposing scenery created for the school musical The Egyptian Queen - the story of Hatshepsut, who ruled the Nile kingdom from 1479 to 1457 BC.

Hatshepsut was a proponent of feminism, even if there was no feminist movement in ancient Egypt, and set out to prove a woman was every bit as good as a man when it comes to running a country.

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She overthrew the young pharaoh Tuthmosis III and ruled Egypt wisely and peacefully until her death. After she died, Tuthmosis II regained power and set about destroying all traces of her rule.

The story was written by drama and English Literature teacher Geoff Oliver, who has written and produced 18 plays since joining the school.

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'I think this play is especially fitting for the students because it's a girls' school and they can learn from the story,' he said. 'To me, there isn't a better way to learn than drama.'

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