What a drama

The completion of the BSB Auditorium [now Brel Theatre] in 1981 was the fulfilment of a dream. For me, taking responsibility for the Auditorium was a challenge and a wonderful opportunity. For over twenty-one of my thirty years at the school, it housed all school drama and music performances and annual art exhibitions. Further, it attracted cultural events from the community and internationally. The school also hosted festivals from the International Schools’ Theatre Association (ISTA).

Of drama productions I cannot possibly name the countless appearances on stage. In brief, and to choose just three: THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1985) for its emotional impact, MY FAIR LADY (1990) because of the beautiful set of accurate period costumes and LES MISERABLES (2002) for an absolutely exceptional student cast, a parent team who built the set, made the costumes, and students, with adult guidance, worked on hair and make-up, and the lighting. Similarly, Beryl Barlow, Head of Drama, mounted several productions, including a very ingenious BUGSY MALONE (1998). In all of fourteen musicals, we worked with a fantastic music department under David Iliff and Tim Willetts.

At the end of each year each of the Year Eights classes presented a complete production, sometimes a musical, sometimes a straight play, once, incredibly, HAMLET! All students appeared on stage and, if they chose, worked with Dan Mitran, theatre technician, on the lighting and sound. The principle that no-one should leave the Eights without the confidence to speak or sing to an audience of 240 was absolute.

From the early Nineties much of the above, and much more was recorded in a termly newspaper, TRIMESTER, and a yearly magazine, BRITISH SCHOOL, which had a colour section to reproduce the Art Department’s best work. Copies that I still have remind me, and perhaps all staff and students who contributed to the culture and ethos of the school, of all our yesterdays.

Ken Woollard was at BSB from 1975 to 2004

In addition to those mentioned above, below are just some of the music productions performed at BSB during Ken’s time. There were many more non-musical productions also, such as Romeo and Juliet, Great Expectations, The Crucible, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jane Eyre and many more!

• Oliver! 1984 • Aladdin 1985 • The Diary of Anne Frank 1985 • Oklahoma 1986 • Kiss Me Kate 1988 • My Fair Lady 1990 • West Side Story 1992 • Fiddler on the Roof 1994 • Godspell c.1996 • Bugsy Malone 1998 • West Side Story 2000 • Annie c.2001 • Les Misérables 2002 • Grease 2003 • Barnum c.2004