Bablakearts
Bablakearts
Acting up
artsnotes Easter Concert
This year’s Easter Concert promised to be a memorable one not least because it was Patricia Tatum’s last major concert before her retirement this summer. The venue for the concert was the School Hall with its crisp acoustics and pipe organ, and there were over 150 performers. The large enthusiastic audience was treated to a rousing performance of a medley from Pirates of the Caribbean by the Concert Orchestra. The Brass Ensemble under the direction of Mr Steve Cooper and the Flute Choir under the direction of Mrs Jane Kimberley played very well and maintained the overall high standard of the concert. The Wind Band treated us all to a Blues Brothers medley complete with cool shades! Sixth Form Music Scholars, Josh Sood and Marie Low, performed the 1st Mvt Pathétique Sonata by Beethoven and the 1st Mvt of the Bach Violin Concerto in A Minor. Both scholars performed with great virtuosity and were a fine example to younger aspiring musicians. Josh kept the limelight when he directed the
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the lion Summer 2010
Jazz Band in his arrangement of the challenging An American in Paris by Gershwin and also conducted the Chamber Choir who performed his own composition Cantate Domino. The second half of the concert was devoted to the combined Bablake Choirs and Orchestra performing the Vivaldi Gloria under the expert direction of Mrs Patricia Tatum. Frequent rehearsals since January meant that the performance was really exciting with some excellent singing from all parts. The solo movements were performed by Serena Westgarth, Elizabeth Armstrong and Hannah Quinn. Congratulations to all students, staff and friends of Bablake who helped to make this event one of the musical high points of the year.
Screen printing workshops
Former Bablake pupil Stephanie Webb has been working with small groups of 3rd Year pupils this term, to give them an introductory workshop on the technical aspects and possibilities of the screen-printing process. Stephanie recently graduated from a Textile Design course at Edinburgh College of Arts. She is currently freelancing her designs which can be seen at http://stephaniesays@carbonmade.com
Bablake's House Drama Festival again provided the audience with a splendid evening’s entertainment. The Festival performances celebrate the best of the young acting talent in the school, while our Sixth Formers are able to direct and produce the plays. Whilst the Festival is not competitive – even amongst the House Heads – there is no doubt that every house clearly wants to perform to its best. In this respect the 2010 event certainly matched and exceeded all expectations.
At the Fringe
This summer will see the school’s 24th consecutive appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We think that this a record for any school, and means that hundreds of students have enjoyed being at the world’s most famous arts festival. We shall be performing Michael Horowitz’ play, A Handbag. The play was written last year for the National Theatre, and we will be the first school to have the rights to present the play. Set in a secure institution, an attempt at therapy for the disturbed youngsters is to learn about the ‘better’ things by putting on a version of a certain play by Oscar Wilde. This ‘play within a play’ motif allows Horowitz to look at some difficult themes – when do we stop acting in life, can bad people become better by being exposed to the finer things, are there people who are evil by nature and are beyond any hope of redemption? The play should be a good one to market in Edinburgh; Horowitz is a very popular writer, and the style of the play fits in perfectly with the feel of this Festival. We will once more be performing at Diverse Attractions on the Lawnmarket, a really central and popular location. So, if you are in Edinburgh between the 16 and 21 August, come along, meet the cast and see the show. We also hope to present the play in the school theatre in early September, before the cast members go to university.
‘The quips came as quickly as the demise of the key characters...’
Working the catwalk
This and last year’s Textiles GCSE groups recently joined forces to present a fantastic array of fashioned garments created for their impressive portfolios. Sashaying down the catwalk to a modern soundtrack, all the models thoroughly enjoyed the chance to show off their creations to an encouraging and very appreciative audience. In summary, a fine show and a small entry charge raised some funds for Breast Cancer Charities.
Crow began proceedings, presenting scenes from Willy Russell's Our Day Out. With our annual expeditions day nearing, we hope our pupils enjoy the social and academic benefits of the trips while not taxing the teachers as much as the chirpy characters in the play! Bayley's production was The Butler Did It, and, despite the title spoiling any suspense, the intrigue and humour of the play were superbly delivered. The quips came as swiftly as the demise of the key characters and 30 minutes raced by. Wheatley then presented Moby Dick – a menacing, tragic piece that most definitely had its lighter moments as First Mate Starbuck tried, ultimately in vain, to steer Captain Ahab away from his obsession with hunting down the beast. An impressive evening of drama was completed by Fairfax whose production attempted to correct the rebellious ways of hair-raising teenage rebel, Marmalade Atkins. Marmalade was, however, always a few steps ahead of her corrective parents and all attempts to institutionalise her. bablake school
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