Our Arts Department puts on an annual Whole School Production in February; either a musical or a play. We aim for these productions to be as inclusive as possible and encourage students from all year groups to audition for an acting role or to sign themselves up for a backstage role in the band, stage management, lighting, photography, costumes etc. We really enjoy seeing our students' confidence and self-belief grow from being a part of these productions - they are always a highlight of the academic year. In recent years some wonderful casts and crews have performed Hairspray, High School Musical, Grease, Oliver, Alice, Beauty and the Beast, Grimm Tales and A Midsummer Night's Dream - the latter with a unique 70s soundtrack!
Quotes from parents:
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
I just wanted to thank you both for giving my daughter the
opportunity to be part of the play. She was so pleased when she got the part, enjoyed being part of the group,
made new friendships and absolutely loved being on stage! I'm sure the buzz, fun and excitement will be
missed.
Mother of a cast member
In recent years we have been delighted to invite in individuals to talk about their careers, such as a film director, and an ex student who starred in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. We have run a costume workshop with support from an ex student studying at the Brit School, visited an award winning puppet workshop, Nick Barnes Puppets, trained speakers for events in school, welcomed Third Space theatre company in to perform to a whole year group, as well as making regular trips to local and London theatres. Productions seen have included "2:22 A Ghost Story", "39 Steps", "Othello", "Life of Pi", "Paddington" and "Into The Woods." As a department we are keen that students see the value of studying drama, from a theatrical perspective and also from a social one. Drama allows students to express themselves creatively within a safe environment, it enables them to develop ideas and opinions, to communicate with others, solve problems, manage time and resources, engage in a collaborative experience and make sense of the world we live in. Theatre encourages empathy, focus and a sense of community. It also instils leadership, initiative and risk taking.
