SPECIAL EVENTS St Dunstan’s Festival
Planning the Festival during a global pandemic was a challenge, but the promise of an opportunity to celebrate all that we are as a College was a light at the end of a dark tunnel. The aim of the Festival is to celebrate our values and ambitions, and to offer students, parents, and the wider community a diverse, exciting and enriching range of activities and experiences. For 2021 we developed a whole new look and feel to the event focused around four ‘zones’: The Mainstage for large scale performances; The Fringe to offer smaller and more diverse events; The Arena to encourage competition; and The Courage Zone to offer a wide range of hands-on experiences for everyone. We are thrilled to have been able to stage the Festival in a 400-seater Big Top, erected in the heart of Catford at The Jubilee Grounds, which allowed us to open many more events to the general public for the first time. Notable highlights were the musicals from both Junior and Senior school; Madagascar and Once on this Island, both colourful, high-energy productions that highlighted the importance of accepting each other for who we are. Senior School student Willow Fenner brought together a group of female students in an amazing devised movement production, based on A Winter’s Tale, that explored the impact of domestic violence against women. Emily Folorunsho took her audience on a journey to shine a light on hidden figures in Black British History, whilst Esther Stanhope offered advice and
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encouragement to those who need an edge in public speaking. From the opening outdoor concert to the charity performances, amazing public speakers, the race to the finish of the Mario Karts and high-octane sporting competitions, this truly was the celebration we needed to end the school year. An event like this does not just happen and a deepfelt thank-you is offered to all the staff, students and parents who worked so hard to make it happen. Mr R Gregg Festival Director
