All the world is our stage

Pupils from Year 7 to  Year 11 took part in individual or duologue classes in the Speech and Drama section of the Hastings Musical Festival held on Tues 15  and Wed 16 March 2011. 

As usual, it was the first time that most of these pupils had performed their work in front of an audience and as part of a competition.  All of our pupils achieved marks which gained them a ‘Special Merit' and we were rewarded with 4 First Places.  It was a particular pleasure to watch the contribution from three lower school pupils who had only started their Speech and Drama lessons in September but competed against each other in the very demanding ‘Reading Prose at Sight' class.

The new "Studio one-act play' class performances were very successful.  Being held this year in the smaller Sussex Hall rather than the huge Proscenium arch stage of the main theatre made it a much more relaxed and friendly event.  12 year 8 pupils had been preparing a performance of ‘School Play' by David Howarth.  They gained a mark of 87 and came second but were praised by the adjudicator for their slick and sophisticated performance.  She also praised their team work which enabled them to be fully focused and to respond both individually and as a group.  She congratulated their hard work in rehearsal which paid off in the quality of their final performance. 

Dexter Marchant was rewarded  with the trophy for the best individual performance.  The adjudicator valued his commitment to his role and his high level of concentration throughout shown by his reactions to the script and other performers.

Special guest, actor Tom Allen took all the competitors in a workshop session to demonstrate some performance skills through game playing and this was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Another fine performance by our budding actors.