Drama Department
Drama-Dog TV: Blundell's pupils' news channel - Edition 8
Part of a regular series, the seventh instalment of Drama-Dog TV is a little over 9 minutes in length.
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Drama News 2010-11
Every year brings its unique dramatic challenges and generates particular memories; my first of 2010 -11 was of a dimly lit 1940s station waiting room that was the set of our school play, The Ghost Train. The relatively small but dedicated cast were on stage for the duration of the play. This demanded a high degree of concentration and discipline and I have nothing but admiration for the mutual support and skills so much in evidence. The set was one of the best we have produced and was a labour of love with everyone in the department having some input. Alan Brailey, Mark Bowden and Barrie Cordon helped with the construction and the sourcing of authentic props. and I was inspired by their enthusiasm and support for the project. Thank you! Roger Winwood seemed to enjoy creating the roar of the train and flashing lighting that brought the ghost train to life and for a brief moment the magic of suspended disbelief occurred and genuine fear rippled through the audience.
The A2 devised piece Euphoria about driving while under the influence of drugs maintained the UVI’s reputation for producing some gritty and challenging issue based drama. The GCSE productions this year maintained the high standard that we have come to expect, and this is due to some wonderful direction an encouragement from Claire Fordham and James Rochfort, our visiting director, who took over my direction when unforeseen absences from school made it difficult for me to continue.
The AS pieces, Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis and Steven Berk off’s Metamorphosis, were particularly demanding and stretched the pupils to their performing limits demanding physically rigorous and emotionally exhausting performances. The Head of Edexcel, David Penhale, was our examiner this year and we await the final grades with eager anticipation and moderate trepidation.
The Crucible, directed by our visiting actor James Rochfort, was a great success. James managed to draw out some wonderfully mature and emotionally engaging performances from the year 9 and 10 cast and audiences were genuinely moved by the moral and emotional struggles of the central characters.
Claire Fordham brought the dramatic year to its close, directing The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, which saw some great storytelling from the year 8s and strong individual performances.
One of the great joys of being a drama teacher is witnessing those moments when individuals achieve their own moments of brilliance or make huge strides in the development of their individual skills. Elliot Keefe proved a captivating Teddie Deakin in The Ghost Train moving effortlessly from camp sophistication to rugged manliness. In the lead role of Gregor in Metamorphosis he gave a performance that would not have been out of place on the professional stage. Eleanor Casely’s performance in the same production was genuinely moving and showed the most individual progress of any individual this year. Lydia Cree gave a performance beyond her years as Miss Bourne in The Ghost Train and made me laugh every evening, even though I had been directing the play for months. Barney Chambers and Corren Kvesic brought raw, spine-tingling emotion to The Crucible and Jack Williams remains one of the most natural and engaging performers, bringing a sense of realism to the GCSE devised play, Hard to Swallow. Jamie Morris’s love of the subject matter shone through and made his monologue from Private Peaceful a particularly moving examination presentation. His younger sister, Elizabeth, carried on the family tradition and proved a wonderfully wicked White Witch in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
This year Tammy Winsley has joined Ann Read to teach LAMDA and has done some excellent work with the Lower School (and kept us going with some really tasty cakes) while Ann continues to achieve great results with the senior pupils.
At the end of the Summer Term the LVI had the privilege of a master class with Caroline Quentin. It was inspiring for me to see her work with such skill and her warmth and sense of fun proved infectious. I can only thank her for taking such an interest in the department and giving so generously of her time.
My personal thanks go to Heather Corden, Roger Winwood, and Caroline Steele for their support, enthusiasm and pursuit of theatrical excellence in their individual fields of costume, technical theatre and make-up. Claire Fordham has proved a wonderful Second-in-Department and an inspiring teacher and James Rochfort has brought his professional skills as an actor and director to inspire the pupils, and they have responded with enthusiasm. Thanks to Claire and James my unexpected absence from school didn’t disrupt the pupils’ progress or the standard of productions. Drama is always a team effort; I couldn’t wish for a more dedicated and supportive team. Thank you.
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
