Drama News

Bancroft winners direct their plays At Lancing the Drama Department always welcomes and encourages involvement from all pupils, not just from those aspiring to be performing on stage, but also from those interested in the ‘behind the scenes’, as well as writing and directing. The Bancroft competition, set up in 1999 in memory of former teacher Donald Bancroft, is yet another example where our students are given the opportunity to showcase their talent in different areas of the performing arts. This year’s requirement to enter the competition was to write a light-hearted or amusing piece. Congratulations to the winner, Upper Sixth Former Pippy Harrison, who wrote a funny and clever version of Macbeth à la Reduced Shakespeare Company. The runner-up was Nicole Bellamy Plaice for Jinx Padlock, a witty and sharp piece about a blind date in a restaurant. Both students were involved in the writing as well as the casting and directing the plays. The two plays were performed at the end of January in front of a packed audience, including Donald Bancroft’s daughter Ros Rees and grandson Alex Rees.

Pippy said: ‘It was a really fun experience. I really enjoyed directing my own version of Macbeth, and the actors were all amazing.’

Nicole wrote: ‘I entered the Bancroft competition following the group writing of my Drama A Level devising script. I wanted to try my hand at my own snappy comedy. When I was at junior school, whenever two people said the same thing at the same time, the first person to say jinx padlock would keep the other person ‘’padlocked’’, unable to speak. So I made this dramatic device the running gag through my script. Directing farce is a tricky thing: the actors have to play the surface of the comedy, without letting the audience know that they themselves find it funny; no winking or mugging is allowed. I am so grateful to Harry, Ella, Ross and Jess for the professionalism they demonstrated towards my first play and my first attempt at directing. To join the cast on stage for the final applause was as surreal as the farce itself. I couldn’t believe I had made this.’

Lent Term plays The Drama Department produced two fantastic plays at the beginning of the term, both directed by Phil Richardson: Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations was a funny play about a boy with a very big imagination; and The Cagebirds told us the story of six women who live in a cage watched over by their mistress. When a new member of the ‘flock’ is introduced, the others’ quiet and comfortable existence is quickly shattered.

A selection of pictures from the performances can be seen below.