5 minute read
Drama
Drama Growing through Performance.
LAMDA...
more than just another exam
LAMDA’s suite of examinations, covering disciplines such as acting; miming; Shakespeare; poetry, and musical theatre, have become part of the co-curricular life of students who have a particular interest in, or talent for, the performing arts. Since introducing LAMDA as a cocurricular option three years ago, we have seen a fantastic uptake and achievement in LAMDA qualifications across our whole student body. Our students have achieved a consistent 100% pass rate (80% distinctions, 20% merits), across both performance and communications syllabi. This year, despite all the challenges posed by a global pandemic, the results have continued that trend, and have allowed students to show their adaptability and resilience whilst working with new forms of assessment remotely via Zoom. Whilst most students follow the performance side of the LAMDA curriculum, students are also learning other applied skills which are making a positive contribution to other parts of their school lives. From Junior Form up to Lower Sixth, students are exploring themes as diverse as vulnerability, corruption, gender politics, story-telling, and belief systems. They are using technical voice skills and applying these to public speaking, and to the communication of themed recitals. Here, some of our students explain how LAMDA has helped them...
Aidan
“When LAMDA became available to me in First Year, I jumped at the chance to get involved as I saw it as an excellent opportunity to boost my self-confidence and acting skills. It has done more than that. “Before I took part in weekly LAMDA lessons at school I always felt nervous when getting up to perform, even though I would never be afraid to take part. I am now confident and take pride when performing to anyone. “Although it was disappointing having to do my exam online this year, it brought a variety of new rehearsal techniques to my attention. I recorded myself on a Zoom meeting so I could watch it back and make notes on how to improve. This technique was really effective for me and I am certainly going to use this in the future. You never notice the fine details if you can’t see yourself performing!”
Performance.
Anish
“LAMDA has proved to be invaluable in many aspects of my life. It has helped me with my public-speaking skills, confidence as well as developing my vocal, physical and interpretive skills. Being able to view many different scripts and plays of your choice, exploring them and then being able to perform them is a hugely beneficial and holistic process. “Doing LAMDA has been a great experience and I am excited to explore some more pieces and practitioners going forward!” Ansh
“LAMDA allowed me to see drama in a new light. It was no longer something I saw in a movie but also something that I have grown to love and take part in myself. “It feels amazing to see the work you put in for months pay off with a great grade in your examination. I only hope to further enhance my skills and, most importantly, continue to enjoy performing.”
Ethan
“LAMDA has helped me develop and improve my drama skills, opening me up to playing a wide range of different, interesting characters that I’d never played before. I’ve been doing joint lessons and I’ve learned a lot from it, as we both get to perform to one another and provide feedback, which has been really helpful and I would highly recommend it.”
Aidan
Finlay
“Recently both I and a friend of mine were interested in taking a LAMDA exam and decided to do a duologue together. Due to COVID, rehearsing became very difficult, so instead we changed it to a combined exam, where there is one duologue piece, and one monologue. I have learnt a lot about teamwork, and acting alongside others, but at the same time we have also been developing different skills with our monologues. I have really enjoyed working with him, and we plan to do more exams together in the future!” Ashvin
“LAMDA gives me the chance to perform and direct my pieces, which I then get to perform to incredibly caring people at LAMDA who take my ideas and views into consideration. I feel that I have really embraced LAMDA and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the arts.”
A team of keen Upper Sixth dramatists challenged themselves to put on a ‘Play in a Week’ to round off their time at Trinity. Eager to reconvene after their exams and lockdown, the group wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to perform together one last time. They agreed to stage an edited, two-act version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, much to the delight of their audience of fellow students and staff who were - albeit small due to restrictions, attentive and enthusiastic viewers. With a slapstick style and the lightest of touches Will Hardy (Toby Belch), Erin Edwards (Maria/Sebastian), Amelia English (Viola), Lucas Pinto (Aguecheek), Anjali Patel-Ramcharran (Olivia), Isaac Lewsey (Malvolio) and Euan Jonas (Technical Management) re-envisaged this timeless classic, set outside in the wonderful grounds of the School. Will said: “We thought Twelfth Night would be a good choice for both us on stage and the audience, and there was no better place to set it than outside.” Along with editing the script, the group rehearsed, planned costumes, designed their set and took on choreography within a tight deadline of just four days. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, two of the cast took on the additional complexity of multi-roling. Will added: “The prospect of putting on a play in such a short time frame was very frightening indeed. We were, nonetheless, excited and keen to enjoy a nice bit of Shakespeare in the sun!” Mr Chambers, Head of Drama Productions, said: "It is so rewarding to see our recent Sixth Form drama students return with the same intensity and passion for drama as they showed through their time at Trinity. Rehearsals promised a funny, original, tongue-in-cheek take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy with some wonderful performances. We were eager to get back to live performance and hope this heralds the beginning of a new chapter."
