Performing Arts

Drama continues to be an exciting and vibrant subject for all children. Pre-Prep performed their wonderful ‘Christmas Counts’ in December and Year 8 delighted a packed hall with their musical ‘Honk!’. Year 4 entertained with their fantastic production of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and Middle Prep worked very hard on a spectacular production of ‘Oliver’. Drama Club continued in the autumn and spring terms and our drama scholars attended a production of ‘Macbeth’ at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Drama has also been a big part of the BH@Home programme. Children took part in a digital talent show with a huge range of acts, complete with costumes and makeup. Others looked at performance poetry or rehearsed short sketches via Google Meet. The Year 8 drama captains created short videos to support Middle Prep in their drama programme.

Mrs Mason

NAME SUBJECT & GRADE

Conrad (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2 Raymond (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2

Eliza (Year 3) LAMDA Entry Level Award in Communication (Entry 3) Speaking Verse and Prose Entry Level

Emilia (Year 3) LAMDA Entry Level Award in Communication (Entry 3) Speaking Verse and Prose Entry Level

Erin (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 1) Acting Grade 1

Emma (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 1) Acting Grade 1

Matilda (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2

Anastasia (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2

Rosie (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2

Beatrix (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2

Thomas H (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2 Jonah (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 2) Acting Grade 2 Verity (Year 6) LAMDA Level 1 Award in Performance (Grade 1) Acting Grade 1 Oscar (Year 8) LAMDA Level 2 Award in Performance (Grade 4) Acting Grade 4 Ben (Year 8) LAMDA Level 2 Award in Performance (Grade 4) Acting Grade 4 Charlotte (Year 8) LAMDA Level 2 Award in Performance (Grade 4) Acting Grade 4

GRADE

Duo Merit

Duo Merit

Distinction

Distinction

Duo Merit

Duo Merit

Duo Distinction

Duo Merit

Duo Merit

Duo Distinction

Duo Pass

Duo Merit

Solo Distinction

Duo Merit

Duo Pass

Solo Merit

LAMDA

With the children’s last lesson in March and only a brief catch up with Miss Whatley before their exam, we were delighted to report great LAMDA results. Many congratulations to all the children and Miss Whatley for the fi ve distinctions, nine merits and two passes.

Congratulations must also go to Charlotte (8G), who was awarded a drama scholarship to Seaford and to Matilda (6G) and Anastasia (6R) for their winning duologue at Godalming Performing Arts Festival. The girls performed a piece learnt in their LAMDA lessons with Miss Whatley about a customer and a waiter entitled “There’s nothing to it”. The judges described their entry as a “slick and well polished performance... well presented, lots of energy and gesture.”

Christmas Counts

It was the most joyful time of the year... the Pre-Prep Nativity!

It was the fi rst Christmas night in Bethlehem and a group of census-takers were carrying out Caesar’s urgent decree that everyone in his empire should be counted. They counted the people of Bethlehem, the Wise Men and their camels and nearly fell asleep counting sheep with the shepherds. Mary and Joseph walked a long, long way and there was no room at the inn.

Then, a countless host of angels appeared with the good news of Jesus’ birth, which sends the shepherds running right to the stable to meet Mary and Joseph and one special baby. There they realise that Jesus being born shows how much God cares and how Christmas counts for everyone.

The songs were infectious, the dancing was groovy, lines were word perfect and each and every child shone. It was a wonderful Christmas treat.

Thank you to Mrs Crisell, Mrs Harris and all the Pre-Prep staff and also to Harriet Hardy and Kirsty Hobkirk for the musical support.

walked a long, long way and there was no room at the inn. Then, a countless host of angels appeared with the good news of Jesus’ birth, which sends the shepherds running right to the stable to meet Mary and Joseph and one special baby. There they realise that Jesus being born shows how much God cares and how Christmas counts for everyone. The songs were infectious, the dancing was groovy, lines were word perfect and each and every child shone. It was a wonderful Christmas treat. Thank you to Mrs Crisell, Mrs Harris and all the Pre-Prep staff and also to Harriet Hardy and Kirsty Hobkirk for the musical support.

Mrs Hardy and Miss Hobkirk

Wind in the Willows

‘In the play there is an important fi ght scene in Toad’s house with the weasels to stop them taking over it. I found the plot interesting because Toad gets himself into trouble and gets out of it each time.

The main characters were Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger. My favourite character was Mole as he acted well.

I did like the show because there were lots of things happening at once.

I recommend ‘Wind in the Willows’. The scenery was brilliant and there were lots of different characters.’ Charlie S (4R)

‘In the play Toad stole a motorcar and ended up in gaol. The girl decided that the penalty was too severe and she had a plan. I found the plot interesting because you never knew what would happen next!

The main characters were Mole, Toad, Rat and Badger. Toad was my favourite character because he had lots of crazy ideas!

I loved the show because there were lots of problems that got solved. My favourite part was when they crashed and Toad sat straight up in the middle of the road and said, ‘Poop poop!’

I would recommend this show to your family because it is exciting, funny and adventurous.’ Clara (4R)

‘It all begins on the river bank. Toad causes commotion by stealing a motor car. Rat, Mole and Badger are disappointed by his actions. Toad’s luck helped him to get back to his friends at Toad Hall, however he soon discovered that it had been taken over by the wild wooders.’ Cleo (4R) ‘My favourite character was Toad; he’s so comical and enthusiastic in his performance.’ Amelie (4R)

‘I enjoyed the battle scene as all the characters were running around the stage; it was chaos!’ Daisy-Skye (4G)

‘I found the show entertaining. My favourite part was when Toad escaped from jail and was really excited. It was a dramatic change of scene when Toad realised that he had forgotten his money.’ Gus (4R)

‘I would recommend the performance to all ages as the singing was uplifting and the acting powerful.’ Ottilie (4G)

Honk!

Our Year 8 production of ‘Honk!’ was a stunning success. ‘Honk!’ follows the life of an ugly duckling and the troubles and trials that come with it. Ugly is brought up in a family who rejects him… except his mother, Ida. Soon Ugly proves everyone wrong and becomes a beautiful swan. I played the father and husband of Ida called Drake. Our rehearsals were full of joyous singing and enthusiastic actors ready to perform. This play was great at pushing people out of their comfort zones with solo singing parts and major roles in the play. On Thursday 5th December we performed to the parents. The night itself was the best performance we had ever done. Everyone was confi dent and proud to be on the stage. ‘Honk!’ was loved by the parents and was a great success. Fraser (8G)

Year 8 performed the musical ‘Honk!’ on Thursday 5th December 2019. ‘Honk!’ is a musical about an ugly duckling who gets lost and goes on a long journey to try and fi nd his family and he meets some interesting animals along the way. The rehearsals were fun and everybody was really enthusiastic. I played the part of Billy, one of the ugly duckling’s brothers who bullies him. The set was amazing and I got to hatch out of a magnetic egg which was really fun. The songs were really good and I particularly liked ‘Look At Him’, because everybody sang it really well. Matilda (8G)

On Thursday 5th of December, Year 8 performed the wonderful musical comedy of ‘Honk!’ The story is about a poor ugly duckling who loses his mum and fi nds her again, meeting some interesting characters along the way. He even fi nds out he is a swan. I played the part of Bullfrog. He is a very funny frog that always has many jokes up his sleeve. He always tries to bring a smile to Ugly’s face when he is down. I love this part as I love comedic parts and I think it really suits me. Oscar (8G)

On Thursday 5th December 2019, Year 8 performed a play called ‘Honk!’. It was a musical based on the story ‘The Ugly Duckling’ featuring a cat, two parents, one loving and one a bit more diffi cult, four little ducklings and a baby swan called Ugly. The children worked hard and were enthusiastic all the way, singing lots of catchy songs like ‘Wild Goose Chase’ and my personal favourite one ‘Play With Your Food’. The props played a massive part in the play, like the magnetic eggs and the fences that truly made you feel as if you were there yourself. But the thing that made it all worthwhile was the amazing acting of the cat. Max (8G)

‘Honk!’ was the show performed by Year 8 on Thursday 5th December. ‘Honk!’ is based on the story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’, Mrs Mason (Director) did an excellent job putting the show together. The set was fantastic and it was obvious that a lot of hard work went into it by Mrs Mason and Mrs Hatcher (Head of Art). All the costumes were great and in my opinion, I think that they all suited the parts in the play. Sascha (8G)

I was very proud to be one of those special Year 8’s performing in the best play of the year, ‘Honk! Jr’ the musical. I loved rehearsing every Thursday and Friday afternoon. I played the part of Downy, an energetic fl uffy duckling that bullies his brother and gets grounded and is very naughty. I also played Barnacles, a clumsy goose who is very stupid and falls over a lot. My favourite part of playing in ‘Honk!’ was coming out of my egg and having a big smile on my face. My favourite song was ‘Look At Him’ because it was the only one where I had the spotlight. Rupert (8G) On Thursday 5th December 2019, Year 8 performed ‘Honk!’ the musical. This is a play about a swan that was separated from his family of ducks and his journey to fi nd them again. The rehearsals were challenging but very enjoyable. Everybody was really enthusiastic. One of the best things about this play was it pushed people out of their comfort zones. Many people who had never sung in front of an audience were put up to sing solos. These people gave it their very best and they were truly fantastic. Singing in front of a large audience is not easy so bravery was also a big factor of this play.

The part I played was Ugly. Ugly is the swan that goes missing so I had a lot of lines. Despite the fact it was hard to learn all of them, it was really enjoyable. Singing solos was quite scary, especially on the night, but if everybody else could sing in front of this large crowd then so could I. Afterwards all of us were really proud of ourselves and the play turned out to be a complete success. James H (8G)

Our play was ‘Honk!’, a modern interpretation of ‘The Ugly Duckling’. We performed on Thursday 5th December to the parents and it was spectacular with the magnetic eggs for the ducklings to pop out as if they were hatching. ‘Honk!’ is a play of a duckling’s transformation from duck to swan through an adventure with the cat, a famished feline hungry for Ugly in his tummy. In the end Ugly is in love with Penny, a beautiful swan and the King of the Lake arrives on a segway and hands him the red band which changes to the Cygnet Ring.

James D (8G)

On Thursday 5th December 2019, Year 8 performed ‘Honk!’ the musical. This is a play about a swan that was separated from his family of ducks and his journey to fi nd them again. The rehearsals were challenging but very enjoyable. Everybody was really enthusiastic. One of the best things about this play was it pushed people out of their comfort zones. Many people who had never sung in front of an audience were put up to sing solos. These people gave it their very best and they were truly fantastic. Singing in front of a large audience is not easy so

Music

It has been a busy year for the Music Department and practical examination results have continued to be impressive. The number of ensembles has grown, with four choirs, a Pre-Prep recorder group and

Middle Prep rock band. It was wonderful to see many accomplished performances at our termly concerts and over 100 children took part in the Carol Service. Musical collaboration between Barrow Hills and King Edward’s Witley has continued; instrumentalists took part in the annual Prep Schools’ Orchestral Day and the Bridewell Singers joined the King Edward’s Chapel Choir for Bridewell Day. A candlelit performance of Fauré’s Requiem in March was a fi rst, with children, staff and parents of both schools coming together. The Music Department rose to the challenge of remote learning with many instrumental and vocal lessons moving online, culminating in a ‘Together at Home’ concert over half term and a virtual Proms to celebrate the end of term. Congratulations to our marvellous musicians on their excellent exam results. Grade 2 Singing Aoife (5G) Pass Grade 1 Trumpet Edith (5R) Pass Grade 4 Singing Verity (6R) Pass Grade 2 Singing Lara (5G) Pass Grade 1 Piano Dominic (6G) Pass Grade 1 Piano Alfred (4R) Distinction

Autumn Concert 2019

With just half a term of practising under their belts, our children were ready to put on a tour de force of performances in our fi rst concert of the academic year. It was tremendous to have some eighty children, from Year 1 through to Year 8, taking to the stage to perform an eclectic mix of music. They all performed with a sense of style and clear enjoyment.

This was a real celebration of the musical talent here at Barrow Hills and the children should all be congratulated on their hard work. It was a pleasure to see so many ensembles perform alongside soloists. From choirs to our very own rock band, the children clearly relished taking to the stage in the wonderful acoustics of the school chapel. It was super to see such a mix of instrumentalists and vocalists perform in front of their peers and of their parents. Thank you to all teachers and parents for supporting the children in the many hours of practice.

Spring Concert 2020

Barrow Hills Spring Term Concert was a huge success on Tuesday evening. The audience enjoyed both ensemble and solo items, all performed with polish and with a fantastic amount of stage presence.

Particularly popular with the audience was the Year 5 band, the Skull Splitters, who played one of their own compositions and also bravely debuted at King Edward’s the following evening in front of the whole school.

It was fantastic to see performances from age groups right across the school, from the youngest Larks choir and recorder ensemble in Pre-Prep, up to the Senior Choir comprised of children from the top end of the School. The Year 5 and 6 choir performed ‘Food, Glorious, Food’ from their upcoming production of ‘Oliver’, and it is clear to see they are working very hard towards what will be a wonderful occasion.

It was lovely to see a packed Chapel with parents and family members coming to support their children. A huge thanks must go to all of the music teachers who helped to prepare the children to such a high standard, and also to those teachers who stayed late to supervise the children before and during the concert.

Miss Hobkirk

Ballet News

It has been another busy year for Miss Anna, accompanied by Miss Lucy, with some fantastic exam results in November. In other news, Suzie successfully auditioned for London Junior Ballet Associates and Miss Anna would particularly like the Grade 3 ballet girls to know how proud she is of all their hard work.

Congratulations to Laura who was awarded the Holford Pre-Prep Ballet Cup, to Suzie who received the Effort Cup for Ballet and to Phoebe who was awarded the Holford Ballet Cup.

EXAM RESULTS

November 2019

Pre-Primary Passes: Arthur, Kiera, Alexa, Albert, Laura, Esme, Florence Primary: Thomas Merit George Merit Rosie Merit

Grade One Suzie Distinction Annabel Merit

Grade Three: Florence Pass

Grade Four Solo Performance Award: Jessica Distinction