By Mrs Moore, Director of Drama

It was a really productive half term in the Drama Department, despite the challenges of Online learning due to school closure.

We made our own short film exploring ‘Aspects of Love’ during the current Lockdown – here students and staff perform poem, prose and play aspects in response to the universal subject of love and all its nuances. Do watch the film here – we hope you enjoy it.

In lessons, Year 7’s have been applying their oracy skills to the art of storytelling and producing some hilarious versions of various classic fairy tales as well as creating their own filmed versions of classic children’s books. Year 8 have been exploring Willy Russel’s Blood Brothers, looking in particular at  the differences between the twins who are separated at birth due to their social class and status and how that reflects in terms of characterisation, both vocally and physically. Year 9 have been studying Stanislavski’s System, and have been applying his theories on naturalism and truthful acting to the play My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley.

Year 10 have been diving into the world of Theatre Review and practicing their analytical skills in live performance, with the online production of Frantic Assembly’s Things I Know to be True, which combines a strong physical ensemble approach to the unfolding family difficulties and traumas within the Price family, of Hackett Cove, Australia. They have also been developing their performance skills with detailed work on monologues from their set text DNA, by Dennis Kelly. Year 11 have been choosing their monologues for Component 2 and getting useful Mock examination feedback to help to hone their written skills for Component 3, as well as completing their Portfolios for Component 1 Devising, which they managed to complete in performance before the Christmas break.

Meanwhile, Year 12 continue their exploration of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, as well as having begun their initial discovery of Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information. Year 13 have done a remarkable job of handling Online Mock examinations and continue with their sterling work on Portfolios for Component 1 following on from their exceptionally high standard Devising performances which took place before the Christmas break.

The Department have had the pleasure of welcoming one of the UK’s most successful Theatre Designers Lizzie Clachan, who gave a talk to the Year 12 and Year 13 girls of NHEHS in conjunction with Waldegrave School’s Year 12 and Year 13 drama students. Lizzie talked specifically about her ground-breaking design on the award winning Simon Stone production at the Young Vic of Yerma after Lorca, as well as talking about her art form, offering the students the chance to ask questions about theatre design in 2021, particularly in Covid times. Review to follow.

From the 20th March, our assembly by Nina Segal will be available to watch online. Imagine the future. However you choose to imagine it. Now imagine it in your hands. What does community mean in a time of division and separation? Mixing live performance, animation and sound, Assembly looks at the impact of humans on nature and what we might build together for a better future. It’s about trying, failing, and trying again. In times of emergency, it is about hope.

Although the theatres are currently closed due to the pandemic, there is still so much for you to see and do when it comes to the performing Arts.

The National Theatre is now offering streaming of its productions for a mere £8.00 a month, including the incredible Vanessa Kirkby who stars in Julie directed by Carrie Cracknell and written by Polly Stenham.

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/julie

The Royal Court are presenting Living Theatre  – a response to the challenging times presented by the pandemic and available to watch online.

https://royalcourttheatre.com/

And the Donmar Warehouse is offering a punchy short film called Monuments exploring the legacy of the British Empire. https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/