4 minute read
Drama
Main picture Boys strutting their stuff in the musical Wow! What a Year! Inset: Building sets for the House Drama performances
DRAMA REPORT
WORDS BY Mrs Patsy Turton, Head of Prep School Drama
Drama
It has been such a joy to be able to see live theatre and drama opportunities come alive in school once again!
This academic year saw the launch of Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6 Drama clubs. In Years 5 and 6 15 boys consistently enjoyed the opportunity to explore a range of skills including radio interviews, improvisation, devising, and costume designing.Pupils enjoyed learning a variety of skills. Years 3 and 4 Drama Club introduced this term with 26 boys attending across the term.
In Year 8 pupils have formed mini theatre companies and have enjoyed learning about marketing, box office sales and script writing skills this term in order to form an idea for devising theatre. This will enable leadership roles in the upcoming House Drama event next term.
Years 7 and 8 Tech Club has been a firm favourite for many years and this year did not disappoint. Run by Mr.Tearle, our tech pupils acquired an understanding of lighting and backstage elements of the Theatre. This has especially ignited interest in boys who have a keen interest in Drama but prefer not to perform. In addition, it allows their interest and knowledge to grow whilst working with the Quarry Theatre technician.
In the Summer Term, Years 5 and 6 enjoyed a show by Below the Belt. This interactive performance raised awareness of disability in performance and demonstrated how inclusion and diversity can be used on stage. Throughout the show staff participated in a gameshow style performance, being given tasks whilst being restricted, with these restrictions each representing the issues faced by a person living with a specific disability.
House Drama took shape in a different form this year. Tuesday 14 June proved to be a splendiferous day for all our Prep School boys as they swapped their usual lessons for a day devoted to House Drama and Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox. In true Roald Dahl style, the
Drama
boys immersed themselves in their curriculum collapse day, putting aside their usual day’s lessons. For those with a passion for acting, there was the opportunity to rehearse for that evening’s House Drama. However, all aspects of a drama production were available for boys to try, from lighting setup to directing, stage design to prop creation, music to marketing, catering to learning a warm-up act. It was an unforgettable day, which saw every corner of the school buzzing with activity. Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable...!” Roald Dahl Mrs Turton, the teacher behind the curriculum collapse day, told us, “It was so wonderful to see the boys from Year 3 to Year 8 working together, learning new skills, and having fun!” Headmaster, Mr Silk, added, “It was brilliant to see boys from different year groups working so well with each other and to see everyone in the school pulling together for such a great day. The boys had an absolute blast, and so many good things were happening.” At the end of the day, as parents sat down in the Quarry Theatre to watch House Drama, the success of the day and the boys’ brilliant work were clear to see in the wonderfully staged performances, fantastic costumes and sets—and the Bollywood warm-up act was a delight! Even the biscuits made by the boy catering team made a real difference, raising over £190 for charity.
Boys prepare busily for House Drama
2021 2022
“This is the best day ever!”
Joseph Hill, Year 5
The school production this year, ‘Wow! What a Year!’ was a triumph, with boys from Year 5 to Year 8 coming together to present a marvellously funny musical refl ecting on the events of the pandemic over the last two years. Performed to sell out audiences at the Quarry, the show was a huge success and a welcome return to performing as normal after the recent restrictions.
Drama continues to grow in the Prep School and we look forward to seeing what the 2022/23 academic year has in store!
