Directors’ Messages
As I begin my final year of teaching, I find myself reflecting on the many musical moments that have shaped the past eight years. Looking ahead, I am excited to be working with our students on a vibrant concert programme for 2025–2026.
Bancroft’s singers and musicians thrive on a challenge, and the rehearsal process is always immensely rewarding. The success of our concerts, however, is ultimately the result of the dedication and hard work of our students, the music department, and our team of visiting music teachers.
I am deeply grateful to them all for making my time at Bancroft’s so enriching and filled with musical joy. I very much look forward to welcoming you to one of our concerts this year.
Mrs Julia Whitbread Director of Music
The year gets off to an exciting start with auditions for the Senior Musical, Bye Bye Birdie , coinciding with a trip to the 5* Stereophonic at the Duke of York theatre, a punchdrunk-style workshop run by Michael Cusick (Edward II – RSC; A View from the Bridge – Theatre Royal, Haymarket), and the launch of House Performing Arts. Drama at Bancroft’s never stops.
We’re so proud of the fact that Bancroftians are involved in all aspects of stagecraft, not just performing; our lighting and sound technicians, stage managers, costume, hair, and makeup students, New Views playwrights, and student directors, make Drama at Bancroft’s special.
We hope you enjoy our performances!
Ms Eleanor Middleton Director of Drama
At a Glance
Autumn Term 2025
15 Sep (Mon) Punchdrunk Workshop (A Level) PAC
18 Sep (Thu) Stereophonic Theatre Trip (A Level) Duke of York
23 Sep (Tue) Music Enrichment Welcome Evening, 6.30pm Great Hall
24 Sep (Wed) Beyond the Veil – New Views Play in a Day PAC
30 Sep (Tue) Award Holders Concert (Removes–5ths), 6.30pm Great Hall
2 Oct (Thu) My Neighbour Totoro Theatre Trip (Removes) Gillian Lynne
7 Oct (Tue) Award Holders Concert (3rds–6ths), 6.30pm Great Hall
10 Oct (Fri) House Performing Arts (P5–6) School
16 Oct (Thu) Rush Hour Concert, 4.15pm The Stave
16 Oct (Thu) New Views Playwriting Workshop PAC
6 Nov (Thu) The Lady from the Sea Theatre Trip The Bridge
12 Nov (Wed) 6th Form Play: God of Carnage PAC
22 Nov (Sat) The Queen Symphony, 7.00pm Great Hall
26 Nov (Wed) U4th Scripted Mock PAC
28 Nov (Fri) Rush Hour Concert, 4.15pm The Stave
4 Dec (Thu) Christmas Concert, 6.30pm Great Hall
4 Dec (Thu) All My Sons Theatre Trip Wyndham’s
11 Dec (Thu) Carol Services, 5.00pm & 7.00pm Chapel
Spring Term 2026
12 Jan (Week) U6th Scripted Exam PAC
22 Jan (Thu) Rush Hour Concert, 4.15pm The Stave
5 Feb (Thu) Ensembles Concert, 6.30pm Great Hall
11–13 Feb (Wed–Fri) Senior Musical: Bye Bye Birdie Great Hall
2 Mar (Week) 5ths Scripted Exam PAC
13 Mar (Fri) Rush Hour Concert, 4.15pm The Stave
23 Mar (Mon) Annual Concert, 7.00pm Drapers’ Hall
26 Mar (Thu) L6th Devised Exam PAC
Summer Term 2026
29 Apr (Wed) U4th Devised Exam PAC
30 Apr (Thu) A Night at the Movies Spring Concert, 6.30pm Great Hall
20 May (Wed) Play in a Day (Thirds) PAC
21 May (Thu) Play in a Day (Removes) PAC
22 May (Fri) Play in a Day (Lower Fourth) PAC
10–12 Jun (Wed–Fri) Junior School Play (The Railway Children) PAC
27 Jun (Sat) Summer Music Festival, 12.00 noon The Quad
MUSIC
Tuesday 23 September 6.30pm
Music Enrichment Welcome Evening
All enrichment students and music award holders are expected to attend, and parents, students and staff are warmly invited. This is an evening to explore what it really means to be a musician and performer. We will look at the art of practice and how it leads to performances that connect with an audience. The evening will also feature a short performance by our new piano teacher Miss Joanna Lam and the Sonorité Sax Ensemble featuring Jenny Akroyd.
GREAT HALL
Award Holders Concert
Tuesday 30 September
6.30pm
GREAT HALL
Performances given by the Removes, Lower 4th and 5ths Music Award Holders.
Tuesday 7 October
6.30pm
GREAT HALL
Performances given by the 3rds, Upper 4th, Lower 6th and Upper 6th Music Award Holders.
Saturday 22 November 6.30pm
Queen Symphony
GREAT HALL
We are hugely excited to perform The Queen Symphony by Tolga Kashif. This wonderful work is based on several well-known melodies from the rock band Queen and Tolga Kashif conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the premiere of The Queen Symphony in November 2002 at the Royal Festival Hall and broadcast on ABC TV to a wide European audience. After being recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2002, The Queen Symphony was nominated Album of the Year in the 2003 Classical Brit Awards.
Sinfonia, Singers, Senior Girls Voices, Percussion ensemble, and Camerata will be performing alongside the Bancroft’s Community Choir and Old Bancroftian’s.
All profits from the concert will be donated to The Alzheimer’s Society.
Thursday 4 December 6.30pm
Christmas Concert
An offering of all things Christmas and what better way to start the festive season. Performances by: Concert Band, Sinfonia, Soul Bands, Big Band, Flute Ensemble, Boys’ Voices, Junior Orchestra, Girls’ Voices, Senior Boys Voices.
GREAT HALL
Thursday 11 December 5pm and 7pm
Carol Services
CHAPEL
Join us for an evening of traditional readings and carols.
The 5pm service will feature Bancroft’s Singers alongside the 3rds Choir.
The 7pm service will bring together Bancroft’s Singers and Senior Girls’ Voices.
Thursday 5 February 6.30pm
Ensembles Concert
A varied mix of musical styles in a concert given by Junior Flutes, Cello Ensemble, Drum Line, Junior Orchestra, Percussion Ensembles, Rock and Pop bands, Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble.
GREAT HALL
Monday 23 March 7pm
Drapers’ Hall Concert
DRAPERS’ HALL
The students’ favourite concert of the year in the beautiful surroundings of Drapers’ Hall. Performances will be given by Sinfonia, Singers, 3rds Choir, Senior Boys’ Voices, senior Girls’ Voices, Big Band, Camerata, Barbers and soloists.
Admission only by ticket provided by the Music Department.
Thursday 30 April 6.30pm
A Night At The Movies
From John Williams to Hans Zimmer, the evening will be a celebration of film music, from timeless classics to the latest blockbusters. Bancroft’s musicians will roll out the red carpet with performances from our orchestras, bands and choirs, including the rich sounds of Sinfonia and Camerata, the energy of the Big Band and Soul Bands, and the voices of our boys’ and girls’ choirs. It promises to be a night where the magic of the movies meets the thrill of live performance.
GREAT HALL
Saturday 27 June 12 noon
Summer Music Festival
THE QUAD
Our now Traditional Summer Music Festival with performances by all our choirs, instrumental ensembles and Rock, Pop and Soul Bands. Bring a picnic!
Thursday 16 October Friday 28 November
Thursday 22 January Friday 13 March 4.15pm
Rush Hour Concerts
THE STAVE
Rush Hour Concerts are informal, early-evening performances that give our pupils the chance to share music in a relaxed setting. They’re a perfect way to enjoy live music at the end of the school day.
DRAMA
Friday 10 October Periods 5 and 6
House Performing Arts
A highlight of the Autumn Term calendar, this student-led event sees Sixth Formers take the reins — casting, directing, and occasionally writing original material. Each House presents a short performance that includes a monologue, senior and junior solos, and an ensemble piece. Judged by invited guests, the competition is open to all pupils from 3rds to Upper Sixth.
GREAT HALL
Wednesday 11 – Friday 13 February
Bye Bye Birdie Senior Musical
Set in 1958, failing music producer, Albert, is trying to get one last hit out of his star, Conrad Birdie, before heading off to become an English teacher. Together with Albert’s sort of girlfriend Rosie, they bring rock’n’roll to small town Ohio. Performed by students from the U4th-U6th. By Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, it won the Tony for Best New Musical, and includes songs such as ‘Put on a Happy Face’ and ‘The Telephone Hour’. Ticketing will be via Trybooking and sent out to parents in the run up to each event.
GREAT HALL
Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 June
The Railway Children Junior School Play
This year’s Junior Play will be The Railway Children The Railway Children tells the story of the Waterbury siblings – Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis who move to the country after their father is unexpectedly imprisoned.
Auditions will be open to 3rds-U4th. After last year’s ‘School of Rock’ success, this year’s production will be a straight play, directed by Head of Academic Drama, Mrs Doogan.
GREAT HALL
Internal Exam Performances
U4th
26 November: Scripted mock
29 April: Devised exam
5ths
Week beginning 2 March: Scripted exam (date to be confirmed subject to external examiner availability)
L6th
26 March: Devised exam
U6th
Week beginning 12 January: Scripted exam (date to be confirmed subject to external examiner availability)
Theatre Trips and Workshops
Trips are organized throughout the year, as new productions are released.
15 September – Punchdrunk Workshop
Led by Michael Cusick (Noughts and Crosses – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, A View from the Bridge – Theatre Royal Haymarket).
For: A Level Theatre Studies students
18 September – Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre
For: A Level Theatre Studies students
2 October – My Neighbour Totoro, Gillian Lynne Theatre
For: Removes
16 October – New Views Workshop
A playwriting workshop led by a National Theatre–recommended playwright.
For: All students involved in the New Views programme
6 November – The Lady from the Sea, The Bridge Theatre
For: GCSE and A Level Theatre Studies students
4 December – All My Sons, Wyndham’s Theatre
For: A Level Theatre Studies students
Wednesday 24 September
New Views Play in a Day
PAC
Written by Zara K and performed by the students, Beyond the Veil, tells the story of Sophie Germain, a mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, born in the 18th century who had to write under the pseudonym ‘Monsieur LeBlanc’, in order to receive further tutelage and later recognition due to her biological sex.
Wednesday 12 November
Sixth Form Directed Play
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. A meeting between two sets of parents who view themselves as the embodiment of civilisation, to decide how to move forward after one child has injured the other. ‘Armed?
You don’t like armed, what shall we say, Michael, furnished, equipped, furnished with a stick, is that all right? ’
Wednesday 20 May (Thirds)
Thursday 21 May (Removes)
Friday 22 May (Lower Fourth)
Play in a Day
The students in each KS3 year group get the chance to rehearse and perform a prepared reading of a play. They perform with full set, props, lighting, costume, and sound. Non-auditioned.
