The drama department has had a busy term with several pupils travelling to Whitby to take part in the Eskdale Festival competition. The festival takes place every year in the Spa Theatre with pupils from across the local area entering in music, drama and song classes. Four pupils took part in the Shakespeare Solo class for Year 9 and under and, for the third year in a row, Fyling Hall came out victorious.
Archie Robinson, Lola Wilson and Rory McAdam from Year 7 competed alongside Amy El-Barghouty from Year 9. All the young actors produced excellent performances on the day and they should be very proud of their hard work. All the performers had complex roles and speeches to learn, these ranged from Malvolio in ‘Twelfth Night’ to Helena in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
On the day, Lola was the winner, with Rory placed second and Amy in third place. Well done to all the performers!
In the last week of term, all pupils in Year 7, 8 and Year 9 Drama pupils took part in a drama show back evening, where they could show case improvised performances they had been working on over the last half term. The pupils were lucky enough to have former headteacher and drama specialist Mr Dave Bradley come to assess their performances, give them valuable feedback and give out certificates to three winning groups.
All the performances were of a very high standard and Mr Bradley was pleased with the level of creativity the pupils have shown in their work. However, on the day the winners were Year 7’s “Mother Dearest” performed by Kayleigh Brown, Ellie Dudley, Evie Wallis, Phoebe Russell and Lola Wilson. The group used the stage well and had developed a complex story for the audience. In second place, and completing a Year 7 whitewash, “And the winner’s aren’t” performed by Archie Robinson, Rueben Mason, Chemin Hong, Toby Bortoft, Ben Carpenter and Lucas Ayckbourn had the audience rolling in the aisles with their hilarious performance about evil King Chemin. Year 9’s “Christopher” was placed third with a piece based on the moving tale “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time”. The group on the night included Charles Haggas, Amy El-Barghouty, James Watson and Kai Rhodes. An extra well done must go to James and Kai who stepped in last minute.
After a short break it was the turn of Year 11 pupils to perform for parents and their peers. This was a chance to show their work prior to the practical GCSE Drama exam which took place on the last Wednesday of term. Two groups took the exam, performing 15-20 minute pieces which they have devised, written and directed.
First to perform were Robert Campbell, Tegan Robson and Ross Archer who lost their religion and tried to make a new one in a humourous and moving account of one man’s attempt to make sense of the world around him. Whilst James Watson, Anna-Luisa Ayckbourn and Omar El Hawary explored the issues of mental illness and art, in a piece which cleverly started at the end of the story.
Well done to all our performers, a fantastic term in the Drama department. We hope you all have a relaxing Easter.
Miss Rowland
Drama Show Backs