Drama
Drama continues to grow in popularity as an extra-curricular activity and in the 2009 – 2010 academic year there were several major drama productions.
In November, Middle School presented Living With Lady Macbeth by Rob John. Following the summer exams and buoyed by their success last year with Wind in the Willows, Sixth Formers, directed Upper and Lower Fifth pupils in their own adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. This latter play was written, cast, directed and staged entirely by the pupils themselves. The team took advantage of the glorious summer weather and performed it outdoors in the amphitheatre by the Junior School. The play was well attended on both evenings and pupils also presented their play to the Junior School, a local primary school and to visitors on the 450th Open Day.
Lower School Drama Club started the year with a production of The Masque of the Red Death. This played successfully for two nights. In the summer term, with all examinations done, Lower School pupils also put on the musical, Bugsy Malone. This played to full houses for two nights. Over 70 Lower School pupils were involved and as with last year’s offering of The Dracula Spectacula, the enthusiastic input of former sixth form student, Adam Carver was vital to its success.
In November, Senior School presented a colourful and poignant version of Theatre Workshop’s Oh What A Lovely War and the Easter term musical was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. Both productions were well attended and students were able to show off their acting, singing and dancing skills.
In the current academic year, three productions have already taken place. The Lower School presenting Titanic; the Middle School Blood Brothers and Senior School A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Easter term musical Grease is in rehearsal.
Weekly Drama Club sessions continue to be popular with up to 30 Lower School pupils regularly attending Drama Club and a growing number of students enjoying the Middle School Drama Club, which has been run for a successful third year by a team of dedicated Sixth Formers.