TV host Ben turns drama judge

A SCHOOL in Caversham was visited by a famous face to lend a hand with its drama competition.

Ben Shephard, star of Tipping Point, Good Morning Britain, and Ninja Warrior, spent an afternoon at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham.

Mr Shephard joined staff and students at the school to host a talk and Q&A session with A-level drama students and acted as guest adjudicator in the intercharter drama competition.

Students from different charters, or houses, formed teams of 10, spread across year groups, and were given three hours to devise a dramatic performance from scratch.

Teams used Greek or Roman mythology as a stimulus to devise and perform the pieces, some of which included music and physical theatre.

After all of the teams performed, each was given feedback from Mr Shephard and then ranked to decide the winner.

Curie Charter was eventually named as the winning team and is the first to have won the title two years in a row.

After the event, Mr Shephard said: “It was so difficult to come to a decision about who should be the winners because the standard was high.”

He himself was taught drama by Rhodri Punter, who leads the drama department at Queen Anne’s.

Mr Punter said: “The competition was a lot of fun and the students had just a couple of hours to devise, rehearse and polish their work before it was performed to an audience of about 300.

“They all did brilliantly well.” n Those seeking more information about education at Queen Anne’s School are invited to find out more about its facilities, curriculum, clubs, and activities at the Open Morning event taking place at the school on Friday, March 3. Sign up is available via: qas.org.uk/visit