Mai Phuong Anh, Year 9: “Confidence and adaptability ignited by an acting opportunity on a large stage”

Mai Phuong Anh, a Year 9 student at BVIS, successfully played the role of Mrs. Lyons in the school's largest musical production of the year, Blood Brothers. This performance surprised her family, teachers, and friends as she demonstrated a different side of herself on stage with remarkable confidence and presence.

In addition to her excellent academic record and proficiency in languages, Mai Phuong Anh had never imagined that she could act in a second language in front of a live audience. However, like many Gen Z students, she recognizes the importance of confidence and adaptability in achieving success both academically and personally. Exposure to drama as part of the International Secondary programme, and particularly the opportunity to play the lead role in a major production, provided a boost of energy that helped her step out of her comfort zone and master the two skills she desired.

Mai Phuong Anh is interested in exploring various plays that carry cultural and historical significance, developed by the Juilliard Performing Arts programme at school. Blood Brothers, set in Liverpool, England during the late 1960s-1980s, piqued her interest and led her to participate in the casting process. Her research on the play helped her gain insights into the historical era, language, and culture of another country.

According to Mrs. Olivia Lopez, Secondary Subject Leader of Drama, creativity, performance, and improvisation are the core of the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme. Every experience in the classroom, rehearsal room, or on-stage trains students to be independent, to master their body and emotions, and to be creative and adaptive in performance, thereby increasing their confidence and enthusiasm for expressing themselves.

During the first rehearsals, the friendly and supportive atmosphere created by her peers and teachers helped Mai Phuong Anh overcome her nervousness and hesitation. With each rehearsal, she became more confident and proactive, and her natural portrayal of the character of Mrs. Lyons was evident in the three main performances of the play.

Mai Phuong Anh says, "Everyone made me feel like there was nothing to worry about if I forgot my lines or acted awkwardly. I also learned how to collaborate and receive feedback from others to improve my performance. This experience has given me a sense of accomplishment, and I will continue to pursue my passion for drama."

To fully embody the character of Lyons, Phuong Anh spent a lot of time connecting and understanding the emotional world of the character in the play, then creatively thinking about how to reproduce the character's personality through language and body language. Drama requires high concentration, as participants must focus on their roles and the situations on stage, recognise emotions, and communicate effectively with their co-actors.

The positive experiences from the Drama program and the Blood Brothers play have helped Phuong Anh gain new and inspiring motivation for learning. Currently, a Year 9 student at BVIS, Phuong Anh spends a lot of time improving her knowledge and skills, with a special goal of developing academic English during this stage to be well prepared for the in-depth and academically demanding Cambridge IGSCE curriculum in the future.