DRAMA AND LAMDA

Drama

Bugsy Malone

Covid was not kind to the Drama Department this year! Last year, we just managed to squeeze in our Middle School production of Bugsy Malone before the country went into lockdown, a mere 10 days later. With Fat Sam’s speakeasy dominating the stage and foam pies at the ready, we were hugely disappointed that we couldn’t perform to an external audience, but at least the pupils were able to perform to their peers. Little did we know that a year and a half later, we would still be waiting to invite audiences to watch one of our shows.

The annual productions are a huge event for Lucton, and for the students, the thrill of performing in front of a live audience cannot be beaten. It’s an opportunity to develop creative passions and talents, improve confidence and self-belief, try something new and work as part of a huge team (the Middle School productions have had, in the past, a cast and crew of over eighty!).

In the autumn term, we optimistically cast our production for the seniors – ‘Teechers’ by John Godber. This comedy was first performed at Lucton ten years previously, in 2011, and was an opportunity to return to an old favourite with fresh eyes and a brand-new cast. Despite our best efforts, we had to abandon ship, as the country went into yet another lockdown and our pupils were sent home. January saw yet more lockdowns, so any hopes of having a production in the spring were quickly scuppered. That put paid to any dramatic dreams for that year – what a shame!

We are very much looking forward to the students performing in front of an audience again as we know how much it means to them.

“It’s an opportunity to develop creative passions and talents, improve confidence and self-belief, try something new and work as part of a huge team. ”

Miss Thompson Head of Drama

LAMDA

Peter Pan

The LAMDA department had significantly more luck than the Drama department and were able to continue with the annual examination session, in person, and not on zoom! Following almost a full term of preparation, three days of exams were held for older students in the atmospheric Queen Anne Flat, making the most of this space being newly available, and amply large enough to allow for social distancing. This gave the Speech and Drama students a sense of normality and progress. Excellent results were achieved, including Felicity and Molly achieving Distinction in their Silver Medal (Grade 7) Acting exams, and Jessica achieving 91 in her Verse and Prose exam. Students across the Prep, Middle, Senior and Sixth Form cohorts did extraordinarily well, and this determination reflects our students’ dedication to not giving up and finding positivity amongst some fairly challenging times.

Prep exams were held as normal in the Prep school, and excellent results achieved, including a full house of Distinctions and Merits.

Speech and Drama lessons in the Middle and Senior schools continued on Teams throughout lockdowns, and we all value the power of communication a little more because of it!

Although the annual London Theatre trip was obviously not able to go ahead in the Autumn term, we still thought positively and started to lay foundations and make plans for the October 2021 trip. It’s one of the highlights of the Drama Department’s calendar when we can take an enthusiastic coach of students down to the big smoke, and partake in workshops, theatre visits and back stage tours. We aim to keep this Lucton tradition going long into the future! Prep School introduced the Poetry Slam into the Spring Term, instead of the Hereford Performing Arts Festival we had our own celebration zoomed live to families at home. This event saw children from Year 1 to Year 5 perform a great array of pieces.

For Red Nose Day, the Prep School organised a day of funny sketches and entertainments performed in front of the school and sent to parents via a Teams Link. Mr Warren, Mr Rogers, Mr Pepper and Miss Penny performed a fabulous piece of ballet to Swan Lake, which really brought the house down. Year 5 girls performed a scene from The Witches, Year 1 recited a delightful selection of comic verse including Spike Milligan’s, ‘Ning Nang Nong’, we also had stand up acts and magic shows galore. A fabulous day which, alongside the virtual “Walk to Shanghai”, raised a huge amount of money for charity.

The Prep School were treated to an outside visit from the wonderful Fetch Theatre company towards the end of the Summer Term, in which giant insect puppets awed our youngsters and inspired us to make wonderful dragonfly papier mache creatures.

The outdoor Prep school production of Peter Pan rounded off our year beautifully with some sunning performances from Clay, Joey and Isaac. The costumes sparkled in the evening light and enabled us to show our appreciation for all of the students’ hard work in bringing this much-loved classic to life. A fitting end to a tricky year!

Mrs Sharman & Mrs Rogers London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

Peter Pan

With superb weather and a full audience in attendance, Peter Pan provided a wellearned opportunity to perform to an audience once again. Particular thanks go to Mrs Rogers for her costume design and Clay’s parents for their wonderful scenery.

LAMDA

Students from Prep School through to Sixth Form celebrated fantastic results in their LAMDA exams; just reward for their consistent hard work.

Red Nose Day, Swan Lake

One of history’s most famous ballets, Swan Lake, was reimagined by member of the Prep School staff, who threw themselves into the performance with gusto.

Fetch Theatre

Giant swarms of bees, a humungous praying mantis and the largest dung beetle in the world; Fetch Theatre’s fascinating and informative Insect Safari proved, unsurprisingly, a tremendous hit with the students.