Drama Department

Drama-Dog TV: Blundell's pupils' news channel - Edition 6

Drama Dog TVPart of a regular series, the sixth instalment of Drama-Dog TV is a little under 19 minutes in length. The movie file will play in a separate window, and is 50MB in size. This means that it will take a little while to download completely, although it should begin to play almost immediately.

Drama News

Our Country's Good

Every year is a busy year in the drama department but 2008-9 seems to have been particularly pressured. The introduction of the new AS syllabus meant more productions than ever in the Summer term; a total of five at GCSE and three at A level plus monologues and duologues. Just as each year has its pressure points it also has its highlights. A particular joy was the department’s first attempt at a promenade performance - Life Without Hope - in the autumn term. The pupil’s enthusiasm and determination to succeed made a difficult format, that could have easily become shambolic, a real success. The actors coped brilliantly with working in close proximity to the audience, and the audience in turn was taken on a journey into different physical and emotional environments and made to feel almost a part of the performance; one parent commented “I wondered if I should step in and stop the violent situation that was developing in front of me”.  In the Summer term The Trial proved a particular success and I was delighted with how well the LVI coped with the exhausting physical repertoire demanded by Berkoff’s text; possibly the most visually imaginative and complex a piece that has been staged in Ondaatje.

It is not only productions but individuals who stand out. Patrick Howe’s performance in Confusions was particularly mature. Rosie Le Page made a striking and thoroughly believable Hedda Gabler; charming and calculating in just the right measure.  In The Trial Jeremy Manning gave a stunning performance as Titorelli. At GCSE level Alicia Fotheringham, India Harvey, Jess Mudge and Jorjia Fletcher gave a really sensitive and truthful portrayal of mother daughter relationships in My Mother Said I Never Should and, if I could give a prize for those who made the most progress in a year it would be shared by this group; their confidence and skill base improved immeasurably. And for his final performance in Woyzeck Theo Weedon really did learn his lines in good time and made productive use of the rehearsal time!

None of the twenty plus performances that took place in Ondaatje would have been possible without the professionalism and tireless efforts of Roger Winwood. Heather Corden has been busy costuming everything from House plays to musical theatre exams with her usual efficiency and the department joke about installing beds, so we could all survive the 8:30am to 10:30pm seven day a week workload, which almost became a reality for a couple of us.

We wish Matt Lawrenson well as he leaves to embark on new adventures, hopefully without further mishap and broken limbs. Particular thanks must go to Tom Owen, of Last of the Summer Wine fame and Katie Rumble, for stepping in at short notice to cover for Matt while he recovered from a broken ankle.

And finally, it is with a sense of relief that the set and costumes are packed away for another year. To all those of you who did come and support us by watching the productions, a very big thank you. Theatre really is nothing without an audience.

Fiona Baddeley
Director of Drama

Drama Department Policy Statement

  • As part of the whole school curriculum students will be provided with a rich and diverse experience of the historical, cultural and practical aspects of drama.
  • Drama classes will be taught in the specially equipped teaching spaces by staff who are either subject specialists in their own right, or who have undertaken additional training in the teaching of drama.
  • The breadth and balance of the drama curriculum will ensure that students are taught how to create, perform, and respond to drama by working with a variety of stimuli from different sources and traditions.
  • Students will be taught the skills involved in different aspects of drama. The art of the playwright, director, designer, technician and critic will be as much part of the students experience as the art of the actor.
  • Students will be given frequent opportunities to watch and learn from peers and professionals. Every possible opportunity to invite professionals into the school will be taken and every student will be given the opportunity to make at least one visit to a theatre, or to support the Ondaatje Hall programme, at each stage of the curriculum.
  • Where possible, cross curricular opportunities will be developed with other departments.
  • Students will be encouraged to fulfil their individual potential and to reflect critically on their own  achievements.
  • The department will aim to provide a disciplined, organised and supportive environment.
  • It will be made clear to the students what they are learning and why.
  • Students will keep records of their work.
  • Students’ progress in creating, performing and responding to drama will be monitored and recorded at least twice a term and reported on at least twice a year.
  • There will be at least two major school productions per year, one for the lower school and one for the upper school. Open auditions will be held for these. While plays are usually directed by a member of the drama department, this may not necessarily be the case and other members of staff are encouraged to do so.
  • Houses will also be encouraged to put on plays and will be supported by the Drama Department.
  • The Drama Department may also offer various clubs in activity time, depending on staffing and interests.

Contacting the Drama department

Tel: 01884 232350
E-mail: fab@blundells.org / rbw@blundells.org