Involvement in drama outside the classroom is both popular and highly valued by the school community. School productions are invariably of an exceptional standard.
Large numbers of pupils embrace the opportunity to get involved as performers, stage managers, hair and make-up artists, wardrobe assistants, props managers, or members of the production crew running the tech desk. The productions are an inclusive event aimed at getting as many pupils involved as possible, whilst putting on a professional quality production.
There are two senior school productions in the year – the senior school play (Year 11 to Year 13) in the autumn term and the lower school play (Years 7 and 8) in the summer term. We also hold a House Drama competition, which is pupil-led, for Lower Fifth (Year 9) and Middle Fifth (Year 10) in the spring term. This allows for all pupils across the senior school to get involved in a production should they wish to.
The senior school play follows a three-year rotation, with a musical one year, Shakespeare the next, and a straight play in the final year of the rotation. This offers the top three years an insight into a variety of styles and genres; each year requires different skills and a different dramatic approach, thereby opening up the opportunity to a greater range of pupils.
