Drama

Drama continues to flourish through routine practical work, school productions and theatre visits. 50% of students in the GCSE group received A or A* grades. Both at GCSE and at A level, numbers are encouraging.

This year's school production was Jane Kendall's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, directed by Neil Walker. Pupils from all years of the senior school, staff and parents gave their time and talents to produce a lively and slick production to packed houses for three nights. Preparations for 2009's House Drama are underway and auditions are being held for this year's major school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. There are also plans to produce a lower school musical later in the year.

In the wider community, Mr Clarke visited local primary schools to give Drama workshops and Mr Walker delivered INSET to drama teachers from other independent schools in the region.

We took all year groups to see productions at a variety of theatres in the area, seeing a range of plays including Blood Wedding, A Taste of Honey, Cabaret, Caryl Churchill's latest play, A Number and Antigone (an AS set text.) Ian Clarke also organised another extremely successful Theatre Weekend in London, where we saw productions of Hairspray and The Woman in Black as well as taking a tour around The Globe Theatre. A highlight of the weekend for many students was meeting Michael Ball on the set of Hairspray. Many theatre trips have already been organised for the coming year, including an overnight trip to see two productions in repertory at The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.