This was followed by two outstanding Professional Practice workshops for Year 8 and Year 9 in Stage Combat.
Students were creatively empowered to choreograph specialist movement sequences and were fortunate enough to hone this niche but impactful skill. It must not be forgotten then that students in Years 10, 11 and 12 were treated to a workshop in November led by the phenomenal and world-renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly from the UK, who introduced students to devising techniques which will undoubtedly enhance their own work as theatre-makers.
We continued to celebrate our collaboration with the esteemed Juilliard School from New York, as we welcomed Stephanie Cunningham for a two-day residency in which she worked with a variety of students, including those who access the Pathway 3 curriculum.
Her work with our students was illuminating and students greatly benefitted from this excellent NAE connection.
A particular highlight of the term was our Year 11 studio performance of ‘DNA’ by Dennis Kelly. This was a rare opportunity for our Key Stage 4 students to use the curriculum content as a springboard for additional creative expression. We were immensely impressed by the high-quality commitment and performance from our students; this was especially notable as they simultaneously prepared for their Year 11 mock exams.
Off the back of last year’s success, Ava (Year 10) once again produced an outstanding entry for the FOBISIA Make-Up Challenge, and we are extremely proud of her for winning her second consecutive award. This year she has won an award for Research and Technical Application. Ava continues to highlight the vast array of avenues available within theatre and pursues her passion of stage make-up with drive and dedication.
As the term drew to a close, the Drama Department undertook eight hours of auditions and casting for our upcoming production of Wendy and Peter Pan, which will take place in Term 3. We were amazed by the standard of our young performers during the audition process. Although we understand that some students may be disappointed, we want to encourage everyone to embrace their resilience and continue to participate in future opportunities. The most successful actors will have faced many challenges within their own career, but perseverance and integrity ensure they are not deterred by this.
Our momentum continues in Term 2 with our London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) students further focusing on honing their skills and craft as performers, as established in Term 1, as they work towards their upcoming exam. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our LAMDA programme flourish this year, as we have been able to offer lessons to over triple the number of students compared to last year. We are also supremely excited about our upcoming trips to Madagascar the Musical and Matilda the Musical at Marina Bay Sands; we truly are thrilled this year to be able to offer live theatre experiences to students from Years 7-12. What an incredible start to the year it has been for the Drama Department, and we look forward to offering many more opportunities and experiences to the school community in Terms 2 and 3.
