28 June

 

17 May

22 March

4 March

23 February 2024

4 November

The Drama department hopes you had a lovely half term! We are delighted to be back and are raring to go. Before half term, we left our ACT club in the capable hands of Mrs Wyatt and she certainly didn’t disappoint. We learnt how to make wounds, bruises and scars with makeup, just in time for our Halloween celebrations. The students found it wonderful fun and even gave it a go themselves! We hope they didn’t trick you too much and instead treated you with their marvellous gory creations.

To kick the term off this week, Mrs Stevenson-Ray gave a workshop on Newspaper Puppets!  Our students were taught how to make and perform with their creations. They thoroughly enjoyed the process and have produced some fascinating results. We particularly enjoyed a particular puppet’s rendition of a new song, ‘I’m a star’. 

Our Upper School musical Jesus Christ Superstar hits the stage next week! Our incredible cast and crew have been hard at work in the theatre all week. As we piece together our finishing touches, we encourage you to make sure you have booked your tickets and that you are ready for the spectacle the students have created. You do not want to miss this. Book at Bridge House Theatre. 

13 October

Last week in ACT we welcomed Danny and Ahmareen Sura to talk about their experiences of working in Bollywood and setting up their acting school. We were incredibly lucky and grateful as they had travelled from India and found time for us in their busy filming schedule. The students received a mini improvisation workshop as well as finding out about their journey into the land of Bollywood. To finish our term at ACT Club, our new drama teacher, Ms Wyatt, will be leading a special effects makeup tutorial ready for the Halloween celebrations ahead. 

Our Sixth Formers received a wonderful workshop from Miguel Hernando Torres Umba, a company member of the renowned theatre company Gecko. They delved into the world of physical theatre and learnt that text isn’t essential to creating interesting work. They began the workshops by building new devising skills and developing a sequence of movements. After the movement score was created, they challenged themselves by adding vocal sounds, playing with movement dynamics and setting relationships between performers.

Gecko’s theatre is very physical relying on breath and fast movement to inspire their superb productions which have an international reputation. He brought professional techniques to the group, giving them tools and the confidence to approach devising work with an authentic emotional physical vocabulary. It was an outstanding workshop led by a performer of the highest quality.  Many of the group will be seeing Miguel in GECKO’s latest production ‘Kin’ at Warwick Arts Centre during half term. The students left with a new insight into creating their own work.  

We have not got long left to wait before our upper school musical, Jesus Christ Superstar hits the stage. Our incredible cast has been working really hard in rehearsals to bring you something worth waiting for. We wish them a restful but proactive half term.  

7 October

This week our ACT club focused on digital theatre & discussion. We discussed Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and how the pupils felt about the Shakespearean text in a more contemporary style and setting. With laughs all around, the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the comedic performances. 

We also welcomed Danny and Ahmareen Sura, who talked about their experiences of working in Bollywood and setting up their own acting school. They even found time for a little improvisation with our students!

In drama clubs, we have begun working in groups to maximise our teamwork and communication skills. Our Musical Theatre club is looking at ‘Freak Flag’ from Shrek The Musical and how to create Character. Our Tuesday group has begun devising and creating their own physical theatre performances, whilst our Wednesday and Thursday groups are bringing in their own options and interests all the way from monologues & duologues to contemporary material, comedy and Shakespeare. 

Our Upper School musical, Jesus Christ Superstar (9-12 November, Bridge House Theatre) is shaping up to be a spectacle. We are excited to show you the pupils’ talent and work. Make sure you have booked your tickets because this is one you’ll want to see! 

Book below:

Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets

30 September

This week at ACT club our very own Drama Graduate, Miss Edwards talked the students through her time at drama school. Our pupils were particularly interested in the highs and lows of her experience and how her skills have helped her to be where she is today. After an informative afternoon, our pupils left with a deeper understanding of the expectations within the acting industry. 

KS4 received a bespoke lighting workshop with industry expert Ian Roberts. Our pupils were engaged and inquisitive about the machinations of stagecraft. They left feeling proactive and keen to incorporate their findings into their own work. 

Our KS3 classes are all about developing skills. Our Year 7s are delving into the world of mime and are beginning to add layers to their work. Year 8 is working on developing story techniques by using flashbacks and flash forward and finally, Year 9 are improving their confidence in improvisation and are beginning to move forward into devising their own work based on a stimulus. 

23 September

What’s the buzz? I hear you ask! Well, I’ll tell you! It's Jesus Christ Superstar! With show week quickly approaching our pupils are working hard to provide a spectacle for you. We are really enjoying the students' inventive ideas and appreciate all their hard work and efforts. 

We would like to say a massive thank you to all who helped at the open evening. It was a joy to see our pupils hard at work exploring the development of their devised pieces. Our drama scholars didn’t disappoint and provided a lively setting for our visitors, some of which decided to join in! 

Our Lunchtime Drama Clubs are in popular demand. To cope with the influx of attendees we have added a Thursday lunch to provide a safer creative environment. Students must come to either Wednesday or Thursday lunchtime, not both. 

16 September 

Our Lunchtime Drama Clubs are now in full swing and students have begun to delve into the practise of Musical Theatre, Movement and Drama Techniques. We have encouraged our pupils to bring their interests to the forefront of their extra-curricular studies, whilst feeling brave to challenge themselves in areas perhaps more alien to them. We are excited to see their ideas develop and their skills expand.   

Rehearsals for our Upper School musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, are off to an impressive start. With an astonishing array of musical and theatrical talent on show, make sure you book your tickets as they’re selling fast!  BOOK HERE.

We look forward to seeing you at our Open Evening tonight!

9 September 2022

 

Our first week back at the Drama department started with a bang. The students of Kings High and Warwick School received an exciting visit from past pupil Katie Burrows at Friday ACT club. Katie talked the students through her rigorous audition process and how she managed to secure her place on the BA (Hons) MT programme at Mountview. Our pupils didn’t disappoint and put Katie through another rigorous process of question fire. Many students were particularly interested in Katie’s experience and her previous training at Emil Dale Academy which led her to where she is today. After a successful afternoon our pupils left with a spring in their step, a smile on their face and an excitement for the upcoming Lunchtime Drama Clubs starting this week. We will be offering the students the opportunity to join in Musical Theatre, Movement and Drama classes led by our new Drama Graduate. 

1 July

The drama department has had an incredibly busy, creative and exciting week! 

Year 7’s Creative Set Designs

During drama lessons, Year 7 have been learning about the role of a set designer. Students had several weeks to plan and create a set design for a production of The Wind in the Willows. They used a variety of materials (paint, feathers, Lego) to create their own designs. Here are some brilliant examples of creative thinking. 

 

Lower Sixth Exam performances

After school on Tuesday the Lower Six performed their devised pieces that contribute towards their A level. The students had to create performances based on the stimulus text “Bull” by Mike Bartlett.

 

Highly Sprung Workshop Day! 

On Wednesday, Highly Sprung Theatre Company delivered a physical theatre workshop that focused on devising, to our current year 10 drama students. This workshop day is crucial in creating new ideas, inspiring, and educating the girls in preparation for their devising component. 

Well done to all the GCSE students involved. Creativity and positivity radiated throughout the drama studio all day! 

 

Billionaire Boy 

On Thursday the Drama department led a trip to see Billionaire Boy at Milton Keynes Theatre. 

“Joe Spud is twelve years old and the richest boy in the country! He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money” But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So, he decided to leave his posh school and start at the local comp. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster as he tries to find what money can’t buy!” 

The students had a fantastic time (as did the accompanying staff). They behaved in an exemplary fashion and enjoyed the show enormously. 

24 June

Spiteful Sisters and Disney's Aladdin take to the Bridge House Theatre Stage

The KS3 students have been working tirelessly since rehearsals began in January. Each lunchtime and after school rehearsal has been filled with creativity, passion, and a positive environment for all involved. Everyone has had the opportunity to learn different skills and work with new people, which has created new friendships across the years. 

All the pupils should be extremely proud of their hard work and resilience during this process. It will be a performance to remember! 

The Spiteful Sisters and Disney's Aladdin shows are: 

Thursday 23 June at 7pm 

Friday 24 June at 7pm 

Saturday 25 June at 3pm

View the full gallery!

Book tickets at Bridge House Theatre!

17 June

A.C.T Club 

This week the drama department are taking inspiration from our upcoming production of Spiteful Sisters and Aladdin. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with different make up mediums and learn new skills in theatrical and stage make up. This week we will be focusing on creating an 'Arabian Eye'. 

 

10 June

Jesus Christ Superstar Auditions! 

On Wednesday, both King's High and Warwick School students auditioned for the upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar! KS4&5 students will perform this during the Autumn Term at the Bridge House Theatre. 

Well done to all students who were involved in the auditions, you showcased impressive skills and musical expertise. Congratulations and break a leg during rehearsals! 

A.C.T Club 

Mrs Wild led a group of students in creating part of the set for the Key Stage 3 production at the end of the month. Step by step, the girls learnt to create clouds from sugar paper, wire, and a pair of scissors. These clouds will feature within the Aladdin set, keep your eyes peeled for the results. 

13 May

Drama Clubs 

Students in lunchtime drama clubs have been devising! They have been creating their own pieces through a variety of stimuli linked to the theme 'summer'. Pupils have been experimenting with practitioner theories and techniques that they have started to learn over the year. Each club has been filled with laughter and has been a safe space for students to enjoy the company of their friends over breaktimes. 

Musical Theatre club together decided their next routine as a group. They have chosen Hairspray’s ‘You can’t stop the beat’. They have helped choreograph their dance alongside Miss Buckingham, and have been inspiring with their motivation and positive energy during clubs. 

KS3 Production: Full Speed Ahead! 

This week Mrs Wild, Miss Buckingham and the Theatre Studies Friday afternoon activities group have been putting together costume, props, and the set for the Key Stage Three production this June. Spiteful Sisters and Aladdin casts have been working to a professional standard in rehearsals. They have been learning and retaining new information at an astonishing pace and are collaborating well in their casts. There will be more information regarding the production to come, but bookings are open now! See below for details.

A.C.T 

In Aspiring Creatives in Theatre (A.C.T.) club, students are learning everything to do about stage make up today! 

They will have a brief introduction to stage make up and how to get into this line of work. Pupils will be given examples of characters in make up from past productions as well as professional shows externally. Come to the drama studio at 1.30pm if you want to find out more! 

Next Friday, we have Charlotte O’Growney from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s marketing team joining us online. This will be a brief introduction into the role she has for the company, what a day might look like working at the RSC and what types of experiences she has encountered whilst working for the company. There will also be opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the marketing side of theatre. This will give students an insight into what it’s like to work inside a prestige professional theatre. This will be at 1.20pm in the drama studio. Miss it, miss out! 

6 May

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Cast Take The Stage! 

Key Stage 3 Drama clubs have been working extraordinarily hard for many weeks in the lead up to their informal showcase of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.   

This play follows the journey of a Charlie Bucket, who dreams of seeing the inside of the master chocolatier, Willy Wonka’s factory. Before long, there is a worldwide contest organised by Wonka himself, which will set the stage for the adventure of a lifetime, as it is announced there have been five golden tickets released. Anyone who finds one of these rare prizes will win a free tour of the factory along with a lifetime supply of chocolate. By some miracle Charlie is the winner of the fifth golden ticket, alongside is Grandpa Joe and four children and their chaperones step foot into Willy Wonka’s world of chocolate. However, not everything goes to plan inside the factory. And who will win Wonka’s grand Mystery prize? 

Each rehearsal was full of humour, kindness, and exceptional talent. The girls highlighted various characters and their large personalities, along with creative ideas inspired by non-naturalistic theatre, specifically Bertolt Brecht’s techniques. 

The performance featured: 

ACT 1 – performed by Tuesday Comedy club 

Character introduction songs – Performed by Thursday’s Musical theatre club 

ACT 2- Performed by Monday’s KS3 Club 

20 years later sketch- performed by Wednesday’s KS3 Club 

Congratulations to all students involved. This will be one to remember! 

 

A.C.T Club  

Spiteful sisters and Aladdin  

Today in A.C.T club there was the option to sign up for the KS3 production crew. There are many opportunities to get involved in the show.  

Roles include: Backstage crew, Hair and makeup team and lighting and sound crew. 

1 April

Exam week for GCSE and A Level drama students! 

GCSE students performed their Component 2: Performing from a text examinations on Wednesday. All the pieces were of an exceptionally high standard and the students showcased professionalism, teamwork and determination throughout a challenging, yet rewarding, afternoon. Well done to all students involved, you did an amazing job! 

Tonight, we are opening our doors to an external audience to see the Upper Sixth perform their examination duologues. We are very much looking forward to it. Break a leg! 

LAMDA exams 

Congratulations to all students who took their LAMDA exams! The results highlighted the outstanding work and effort undertaken by all. Students should be extremely proud of themselves. 

107 Distinctions 

37 Merits 

A.C.T 

Last week, Mrs Wild and Mrs Buckingham introduced a group of students to the Foundation’s 'wardrobe'. 

Students began to roam through the rails and explore the props, accessories and set that has been used in previous productions across the Foundation.  This week, students are going to participate in an 'expert challenge' where they get to design their own costume! 

25 March

Performing from a text

Over the past term, our A Level and GCSE drama students have been working towards their Component 2 examination; Performing from a text. 

The GCSE pieces showcase the wonderful talent of the King’s drama students. Some pupils are working in groups, whilst others are performing monologues. The texts chosen are hugely diverse in mood, theatrical style and historical period. Texts include ‘Girls like that’ by Evan Placey, ‘Island town’ by Simon Longman, ‘Bronte’ by Polly Teale to name but a few. 

The A Level cast are performing a collection of duologues from different time periods. They explore various social and political issues as well as the difficulty of maintaining relationships. The play extracts include Oscar Wilde’s ‘The importance of being Ernest’, ‘Daughterhood' by Charley Miles, and 'Lovesong' by Abi Morgan. 

18 March

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - with a twist Wednesday 4 May 2022

Key stage 3 Drama clubs have been working tirelessly towards Kings’ High School's latest showcase. Each drama club has collaborated in different ways: experimenting with a large range of roles, meeting deadlines and expectations, enjoying new responsibilities and opportunities to be creative! Every club has been exploring Roald Dahl's text whilst devising new extracts, influenced by the theatre practitioner Bertolt Brecht and experimenting with physical theatre. 

Everyone has contributed with enthusiasm, creativity, and passion for drama! 

Tickets will be available shortly, so please look out for updates. 

Aspiring Creatives in Theatre

During A.C.T club the Drama department will be showing ‘Winter Rites’ by Highly Sprung. 

Set in the dystopian future, earth finds itself slowing on its axis. One day now lasts weeks. Winter Rites examines the reasons of slowing and the power of possibility. Exploring consumerism, plastic and pollution, the newly devised performance will interrogate conspiracy theories and beliefs for how and why earth is slowed down, examining the role of individuals, how we act as a society now and unpacking what it means to be human. Winter Rites is devised by Sprung Advance, our experienced cohort of young performers, for this year’s environmentally-themed physical performance festival about changing climates. An original piece which will showcase and harness the energy, power, and commitment of young people to tackle the climate emergency.  

 

 

11 March

Show week for the middle school play

Year 9 and 10 students have been working exceptionally hard leading up to, and during, their first joint showcase with Warwick School. The rehearsals have been running since January and have been a safe space to have fun, create and explore the text. 

Show Schedule for the Bridgehouse theatre 

• Wednesday 9th March 2022 - 7pm 
• Thursday 10th March 2022 - 7pm 
• Friday 11th March 2022 - 7pm 

Patrick Marber’s - The Musicians: The Orchestra of Ridley Road, a state school, is to give a concert in Moscow at the European Festival of Youth, Playing Tchaikovsky’s fourth Symphony before an audience of cultural bigwigs. But their instruments have been impounded by customs. Luckily Alex, the Russian boy who cleans, is a devout pinball wizard fan who comes up with a plan to save everyone. 

Students have been having enjoying themselves, handled each show professionally and made the Foundation staff extremely proud! 

Tonight, is the final show of The Musicians, if you haven’t got your tickets already there are still a few left. You can book here. 

Good luck everyone, break a leg!

A.C.T Club

Careers Week in A.C.T! 

Teachers from both Warwick School and King's High joined forces to explain their pathways as to how they came into the teaching profession. Mrs Stevenson-Ray, Mr Perry, Mrs Wild and Miss Buckingham spoke with honesty and passion regarding their journeys, and inspired students with new opportunities and ideas for careers within the broad spectrum of the performing arts industry. Students were able to ask the teachers questions about their previous experiences and gain honest advice about how they worked professionally and what they have learnt along the way. 

This was an informative talk that highlighted their passion and enthusiasm for the creative arts.  All the students enjoyed the talks and learnt a great deal about the industry and the endless possibilities within it! 

 

4 March

On Wednesday evening, the Drama department hosted a trip to see Groan Ups at The Coventry Belgrade Theatre.

“Direct from the West End, multi award-winning Mischief theatre company return on their tour with their brand-new comedy about growing up. The audience follow an unruly classroom of six-year-olds on their journey through anarchic high school teenagers to the challenge of adulthood.”

The students were fantastic and really enjoyed this hilarious comedy! This trip was an exciting opportunity to see live theatre, to see how the drama skills they are learning about are utilised and the quality of a professional production on tour!

Acting Creatives in Theatre (A.C.T.) Club

Equality and Inclusivity

At lunchtime today, students gathered in the studio to discuss the drama department's curriculum and how we could create more inclusivity in lessons.

Last year, students supported staff in creating new schemes of work and re-vamping old ones, this includes:

Year 7- Gender Identity - Using The Boy in the dress

Year 8- Neurodiversity - Using The Curious Incident of dog in the night-time.

Year 9- Racism - using Otello and The Merchant of Venice

The aim of this chat was to gain vital feedback from students regarding the new schemes of work. This allowed the group to talk openly with teachers about the changes made to support all students but also, what else could be done to further the delivery of these topics. All students that attended this meeting showcased intelligence, sensitivity and passion for the subject. This was an inspiring session that created new suggestions and ideals for moving forward when teaching these subjects in greater detail.

Well done to everyone involved!

18 February

LAMDA Exam Week 

Students have been working tirelessly leading up to their LAMDA exams this week: learning lines, exploring texts and perfecting their characters. 

At LAMDA Evening on Thursday, the audience was treated to a selection of the pieces where students presented a wide range of monologues, demonstrating their tremendous ability.  

All students should be extremely proud of their work towards LAMDA evening and exams. Congratulations to all involved! 

Celebrity visit! 
Lower six drama class welcomed accredited actor, Daniel Brocklebank into school today! 

Daniel grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and started acting professionally from the age of 14. He spoke about his experiences in working with the Royal Shakespeare company, performing on London’s West end and talked about taking his work to destinations all around the world. In 2010 Daniel also won the Best Actor Award at LesGaiCineMad international Film Festival for his role in the British film “Release”. 

All students were thrilled with this opportunity and gained new insight to pathways and experiences within the acting industry. The group received helpful tips and a realistic insight into the lifestyle of an actor: sacrifice contrasted with the once in a lifetime opportunity.  

Everyone involved became inspired to work hard at their craft and opportunities will come their way. 

The drama department send a gargantuan thank you to Daniel Brocklebank for meeting with the students today! 

11 February

Rehearsals are in full swing! 

The KS3 casts of Aladdin and Scheherazade’s Stories have been working exceptionally hard towards their production showcase in June. All students have shown focus in exploring the scripts, blocking scenes and learning songs. Each cast is enjoying lunchtime and after school rehearsals and students are creating process, creating and inspiring each other.  

Years 9 and 10 from both King's High and Warwick School are performing The Musicians at the Bridge House Theatre this March. The cast have been learning new skills in a fast-paced environment and should be proud of what they have produced so far. 

The dates of the shows are: 

Wednesday 9 March at 7pm 

Thursday 10 March at 7pm 

Friday 11 March at 7pm 

For more information and to book tickets go to The Bridge House Theatre Website.

4 February  

Drama Clubs have been busy auditioning this week! 

In recent weeks, Key Stage 3 have been exploring Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in preparation for our informal showcase later this year. 

Students who wanted to audition were given an extract from the script to perform from the perspective of their favourite character. 

Those who performed showcased control, varied vocal dynamics and managed to harness the comedic personalities of the characters in the play. Also, students provided exceptional feedback which created a comfortable and inspiring energy throughout the groups. 

Well done to everyone involved! 

The rehearsal process for Charlie begins next week, so stay tuned for some behind the scenes information…

Independent Schools Association- Shakespeare Competition 

This week, Key stage 3 and 4 Wednesday groups have auditioned for the opportunity to enter the ISA Shakespeare monologue competition 2022. 

Over the past month, students have been learning, researching and exploring the plays of William Shakespeare in order to either write an original monologue based on a character from a play, or use a classical monologue written by Shakespeare himself. Students then learned this piece off by heart and performed it to their group.  

Students showed confidence in speaking and performing in Shakespeare tongue and others created relevant and relatable contemporary characters that educated and entertained the audiences. 

This was an independent project however, with the help from their peers, pieces grew stronger after discussions and performing to each other. The final audition monologues conveyed intelligence and confidence.  Well done to everyone who was a part in this journey!  

 

28 January

Play in a Day

Renowned physical theatre company, Highly Sprung, joined our Year 7 students this week to create an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle using physical theatre as the key means of storytelling. Students worked extremely hard throughout the day showing their excellent collaborative and creative skills.  

Each cast performed a section of the adaptation, using their physicality to tell the story and working collaboratively to create a confident portrayal of the play, which was performed at the Bridge House Theatre after school to a live audience.

Well done to all involved, this was a spectacular day to be a part of! View the Gallery here.

Aspiring Creatives in Theatre (ACT) Club

This week Mrs Wild led a group workshop on Sock puppets. 

Pupils were given a demonstration of how to bring a sock puppet to life and were then introduced the logistics of puppetry. They discussed how to move a puppet and what the puppet was made from. 

The group then started to create their own, this was through drawing and cutting the structure of the mouth and reinforcing the puppets head. 

Next week students will decorate their puppets and begin to bring their personalities to life. 

Sock puppetry will continue for the next two weeks, come to the drama studio at lunchtime to join in the fun! 

21 January 2021

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming Talisman Talent agent, Emma. 

Emma joined A.C.T club today via Teams to speak to students about how she created her agency.  

She began by explaining the inspiration behind her move to create her own business along with what her job role includes.

Emma gave pupils advice on what she would look for when auditioning for potential clients, what types of jobs are accessible to her from other platforms and gave them assistance on how to prepare themselves for the industry.  

This meeting was full of helpful guidance and a chance to ask insightful questions and extremely beneficial for those who want to learn more about the options within the performing arts industry. 

For more information about Talisman Talent visit talismantalent.co.uk.

14 January 2021

This week, drama clubs have started to explore classical Shakespeare texts to take part in the ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition.

Students have the choice to either perform a classical Shakespeare monologue or write their own based on an existing Shakespeare character. They then must learn it off by heart, rehearse and, finally, film the end product.  

Each club has been researching texts, experimenting with acting techniques and exploring how vocal dynamics can change a script. All students are excited and have been asked to bring in a monologue to rehearse with if they wish to take part. 

For more information on rules, please click HERE.

10 December 2021

The Year 7 and Year 9 Drama students have been working exceptionally hard during the lead up to their assessments this week! 

All year 7 pupils have worked collaboratively to produce fantastic melodrama pieces. Year 9 students have been working in the style of Brecht and have created great work to make the audience think about behaviours, social, and wider issues that go on in the world. 

Well done to everyone involved! 

Drama clubs have been working endlessly at break and lunch times in preparation for their showcase next Tuesday 14 December. 

From the beginning, their work ethic has been extraordinary! Each group were given the theme of Christmas and several stimuli to inspire their work. KS3 and KS4 Musical Theatre groups have been learning and choreographing routines from The Greatest Showman. They have worked tirelessly in a team to achieve above and beyond what is expected! 

After 6 weeks of working hard, sharing peer feedback, and experimenting with relevant performance techniques, all students are excited to share their work to a live audience. 

Huge congratulations to all students in extra-curricular drama clubs! 

3 December 2021

Last week, the Year 11 Drama students performed their devised pieces, for Component 1 module in their GCSE work. 

All groups were given various stimuli to explore and create from, and there were fantastic examples of Creative Thinking!   

Several groups incorporated the idea of fame and the contrast of reality and the fight to sustain it, inspired by the song ‘Starz In their Eyes’- Just Jack. 

Other groups were motivated by the ‘Because…it all decays!’ quote (100-Imaginary Body). One group explored the aftermath of an earthquake and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Another focused on a group of friends who were involved in a car crash and how one girl (‘Caitlin’) had to continue her life with Amnesia. 

The students involved in this process should be extremely proud of themselves for creating such well thought and impactful theatre. Well done Year 11s! 

Aspiring Creatives in Theatre Club

Today in A.C.T club, students participated in a lighting workshop led by Mr Roberts in the Bridge House Theatre. He introduced the workshop with the history of lighting, all the way to how it is used in a production nowadays. He began to explain how different lights and effects can create mood and impact on stage. 

This was fascinating as we were given an insight into past productions in the Foundation and how lighting was used to enhance these performances. 

Thank you for all students who joined us today and stay tuned to see what we are up to next week!

26 November 2021

This week, over 50 GCSE Drama students went to see The National Theatre’s “The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-time” at The Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park. The show uses awesome projections, dynamic physical theatre and clever technology to give the audience an insight into the protagonist’s (Christopher) autistic mind. It is a hugely powerful show, and it was an exciting day for all: it is so wonderful to be watching live theatre again! Students will evaluate the performance for their GCSE examination later this year.

Aspiring Creatives in Theatre Club

In our Aspiring Creatives in Theatre (ACT) club, Mrs Wild is continuing her shadow puppet workshop. Students are making under-seascapes including mermaids and turtles and will then rehearse and present their very own piece of shadow puppet theatre!

This has been an amazing experience as it has given an insight into creativity within Drama and Theatre. There has been a wonderful buzz during this club since it began!

22 November 2021

Last week, in our Aspiring Creatives in Theatre (ACT) club, Mrs Wild introduced students to the ancient art of Shadow Puppetry! We began by looking at the history and basic principles of shadow puppetry, and then we started to create short pieces in groups. This week, we will be experimenting with our handmade puppets and perform our pieces to the rest of the group.

19 November 2021

Our lunchtime Drama Clubs have worked exceptionally hard in creating and rehearsing towards an end of term showcase! 

This will be on Tuesday 14 December 2021 and includes work from both KS3 and KS4 Drama, KS3 and KS4 Musical Theatre and KS3 Comedy. 

This showcase is to celebrate the dedication of all students and the enjoyment that occurs in Drama clubs throughout the school year. This is a perfect opportunity to support the students and their new skills! 

18 November 2021

It was wonderful to see the Bridge House Theatre full again for our Senior Production as Everyman took to the stage. To mark this important step it was perhaps apt that it was a new play, or at least a new version of a play, written specifically for us by Adrian Jarvis. Our Everyman is a retelling of the 15th century morality play with original contemporary-styled songs. Set in 2021, it is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking exploration of morality as the protagonist is forced to reflect on the actions they have taken in life and the impact of those decisions.  

Adrian Jarvis’ work has been seen before on the BHT stage (Gilgamesh 2017) and this exciting modern ensemble reworking of Everyman was contemporary in both its subject and its styling and fuelled by an electronic score and songs.  Our Everyman was suffering with COVID and facing the choices and relationships of his life; specifically the people he had harmed in pursuit of his own wealth and reputation. Digital screens showed video which accompanied the action on stage and the ensemble switched expertly between roles as diverse as business executives (Robot song), the homeless (Salvation) and even the inside of Everyman’s head (Pulchra, Cretia and co).

The cast were tremendous from the outset, embracing the challenges within the text, offering creative ideas during rehearsals and experimenting with the music that is interwoven into the play. Not only was it an excellent opportunity for our senior students to tackle a different and new text, but it was also delightful to have live theatre return to the Bridge House Theatre. Audiences were moved by the performances, commenting on the emotional content and the way it forced them to personally reflect on their own lives!  

Superb solo performances were given throughout, and the result was a tremendously moving, timely and powerful piece of theatre that reminded us all that whatever we believe the need to ‘do good things’ in our lives prevails.

Special mention must go to Taha for his outstanding portrayal of the protagonist Everyman, and to Rose (Pulchra), Hope (Witt), Lottie (Cretia) and Lauren (Bim) for their energetic and vibrant performances, and to the entire cast and crew for their contribution to what was a striking final performance.  

A very special mention must go to Ian Roberts who retires in December from his role as Foundation Technical Manager. His creative vision and expertise were evident throughout Everyman in the stunning lighting design and the visually impactful TV screens suspended above the stage which created the world of the play through colourful, eye-catching videos. We are incredibly grateful for all that he has done to support the Drama department and our students, and he will be sorely missed.  

View the Everyman Gallery here.

12 November 2021

Aspiring Creative in Theatre

Our first A.C.T. Drama Club (Aspiring Creatives in Theatre) took place today. Mr Roberts explained the creative process that a lighting designer undertakes for each production and demonstrated some of the technical features in our current show, Everyman.