Autumn newsletter 2016

LES Drama News A U T U M N

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: 

Macbeth – Splendid Productions

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Woman In Black—Theatre Royal, Nottingham

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As You Like It— Curve, Leicester

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Starfish 2 Film Premiere Other Dramas!

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LGS LAMDA Update

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Splendid 5 Macbeth!

The Play That Goes Wrong

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T E R M

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Grease is the Word!

From Tuesday 7th February to Friday 10th February 2017 the LHS and LGS students will be presenting our major musical production ‘Grease’, written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Nowadays we can upgrade to the film package—so as well as the old favourites Look At Me, We Go Together and Summer Loving audiences will also be treated to Sandy, Hopelessly Devoted and You’re The One That I Want!

The plot twists through the emotions of a group of High School teens in their final year at Rydell High.

There are 2 casts of Pink Ladies alternating Tues/ Thur or Wed/Fri nights to

accommodate all the LHS girls who wanted to be involved!

Finan Archbold, year 11, who plays the Kenickie, writes; “Grease is a great musical which shows teen love in the 50s from the perspective of the popular guys ' T-birds ' and the popular girls ' Pink Ladies'. The story is

centred about the heart warming romance story between Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski and their high school romance.

This is a light hearted musical which involves a cast with students from year 10 up to year 13 playing various parts.

Extra rehearsals are also run by students as teachers which makes it a great experience to be part of. The set is brilliant and the music likewise practically professional.

I can’t wait to play the role of Kenickie.

There was much squealing when the cast were told… and I think the other students were excited too.

Blood Brothers will be an awesome show and I’d urge everyone to come and see it. “ Tickets on sale soon from LGS and LHS Drama staff.

As You Like It—Shakespeare Schools Festival Following the success of last year’s performance of Twelfth Night at Curve, Leicester this year a new cast performed As You Like It. A committed selection of Year 10 –13 LGS and LHS drama students rehearsed weekly and just last week performed to a packed audience in the Studio Theatre at Curve, Leicester.

All of the students thoroughly

enjoyed the experience—for some this is the second year in a row they have taken part!

The cast were praised for their slick, stylish version and how well they all understood their dialogue—no mean feat with Shakespeare.

Our technical team also acquitted themselves with aplomb, again praised for a seamless contribution to the performance. Well done all!

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Frantic Assembly —Things I Know to be True The Year 10 and 11 drama groups were given an opportunity to see Things I Know To Be True at Warwick Arts Centre this autumn term. As part of our GCSE course, we are learning to produce Live Theatre Reviews to reflect on the effectiveness of a performance, and break down the key components that have affected us as an audience. Needless to say,

Frantic Assembly’s work had us captivated. The show painted a complex and vibrant family portrait through a graceful blend of abstract movement and naturalistic storyline. The cast performed lifts and falls, argued and reminisced, all the while exploring the universal difficulties that families can face in today’s world.

Punctuated by an gentle soundtrack, the audience’s mood rose and fell with the actors’; roaring laughter at

one point and utter silence at another. My favourite aspect was the use of stunning visuals such as the suspended array of moltentear light bulbs; when they all turned on, it made for an incredibly powerful moment that spoke of a family’s strength as a unit, as well as the love they shared for one another. It was an absolute pleasure to watch.

Hamzah Mohammed, Year 10

Starfish—Film Success!

Oliver with his onscreen brother & Director Bill Clark

“I had a brilliant time on set, working with some amazing actors; Joanne Frogatt, Tom Riley, Michele Dotrice, and phoebe Nichols along with a very talented director and crew.

But for me the best part was meeting the "real" Tom Ray, he came to watch several times on set, which was nerve wrecking, but he was really kind and encouraging, and is truly an inspirational man!”

Oliver Cunliffe, Year 7

LES

DRAMA

NEWS

In March 2015 I was invited to attend an open audition for a film . The auditions were being held in Uppingham town hall and it was full of a 100 kids all auditioning too.

It was daunting walking into a room full of industry professionals, the director, and members of the production team but over the coming months I met them all several more times, auditioning to camera, having test shots.

Auditioning with other cast members. In August 2015 they finally offered me a role!

Filming started at the end of November 2015.

The film is Starfish, is based on true life events. Tom Ray contracted sepsis a condition that 44,000 people die of each year.

Tom survived but had both his arm, both his legs and part of his face removed.

The film tells of the difficulties that he and his family had and the effect it had on their lives.

The role I play is the Tom, as a boy. There are various flash backs to his childhood that help the viewer to understand where his determination and courage came from.

Oliver Cunliffe Year 7 The film is out now, go and see it!

The Odyssey—Theatre Ad Infinitum Recently students from LGS & LHS saw The Odyssey. The Odyssey was an ancient Greek poem written by Homer, after the Trojan war. There was something intriguing about this performance, it was all performed by one actor! How? I hear you ask.

Yes, it did seem virtually impossible that George Mann could act out all of the characters by himself!

It is the end of the Trojan

War and Odysseus has still not returned home from the war. Goddess Athena, discusses the fate of Odysseus with Zeus, king of the gods and they decide to help him. That night Athena, disguised as Telemachus, finds a ship and crew to help the real Telemachus on his journey to help find his father. The next morning, he sets off to find his father in an effort to stop the Suitors, from seducing his mother.

This is only the beginning and you can already see that the one actor had a vast number of roles. It was truly fascinating live, when the actor used levels, expressions and stage use to denote which character he is. The lighting throughout was phenomenal and related to the mood superbly. This was thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Suraj Batman, Year 10

Theatre & Drama opportunities beyond LES...

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Infrared Comedy Theatre

I am part of award winning Infrared Comedy Theatre.

In Infrared we perform original comedy musicals

and pantomimes written by our director Sara LimSmith and perform them in the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton with rehearsals based in Loughborough. We are currently rehearsing our panto of The Three Little Pigs. By joining Infrared, you also have to opportunity

Pauline Quirke Academy I go to the Pauline Quirke Academy every Saturday for three hours, we have three lessons, Musical theatre, Film and TV as well as comedy and drama.

We work on different things and do lots of different projects, like making short films and performing musicals.

In October I took part in a musical that we performed in Her Majesty's Theatre in London in front of over 800

people. we make films and enter them into competitions, where we can win awards and go to award ceremonies. We also do Trinity exams, our last ones were last Christmas where we got our Musical Theatre Grade 5 and Theatre Grade 4.

to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as next year we are bring back our hit play ‘The Estate’, which received four star reviews. I think Infrared is a great company, who are exciting, especially if you want to join somewhere to do something different. If you are interested in being part of the company visit our Facebook page or our website www.infraredarts.com.

Rebecca Kroon, Year 13

“… we also get to go behind the scenes and work with cameras and microphones microphones and be part of the crew. and be part of It's lots of fun, but we also take things the crew. It's lots seriously. of fun but we also take things Sophie Marsh, Year 11 seriously.“ Sophie Marsh, Year 11

I like it because We get lots of opportunities to know what it's like to be an actress, but we also get to go behind the scenes and work with cameras and

Festival Players Theatre Company Outside of school, I am a member of the Festival Players, which is a theatre group in Loughborough.

The group performs 4 plays a year split between Loughborough Town Hall and the Sir Robert Martin Hall at Loughborough University.

I can neither sing nor dance, but love to act—so plays are my preference!

I first became involved in the group in 2010, when my dad, who is also part of the group, suggested me for a nonspeaking role in a play called Brassed Off. Since then I've taken every opportunity to be involved with the group due to the warm atmosphere at rehearsals and the chance to learn new skills from the

adults in the group.

Ted Grainger, Year 10

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Theatre & Drama opportunities beyond LES...

Loughborough Amateur Operatic Society LAOS is a 16+ Amateur Dramatics group based in Loughborough. They rehearse at the village hall in Woodhouse Eves and are currently in rehearsals for the musical Rock of Ages.

LAOS perform at Loughborough Town Hall twice annually, both shows being musicals.

Show week with LAOS is certainly tiring, but full of endless fun. We have a social

evening out after every show (apart from opening night), these include Chip Cob night , a meal at an Indian restaurant, afternoon tea and more.

There is also the option to socialise after rehearsals every week, which is one of the reasons that the company are so close.

I have been in two shows with LAOS Half a Sixpence and Little Shop of Horrors, both of which received brilliant reviews, and

there hasn't been a single moment where I have not enjoyed myself.

If you are looking for a social, fun, and mature amateur dramatics group then check out LAOS you will not be

LAMDA lessons at LGS Around 30 boys have begun Speech and Drama lessons this term. The boys have an individual lesson and are working towards taking their first LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exam in school in the Spring term. In the lessons the boys have the opportunity to focus on LAMDA's communication or performance exams.

LAMDA’s communication examinations provide the opportunity to develop a clear speaking voice,

positive body language and self-confidence by exploring different uses of Spoken English, many of the boys are enjoying working towards a Public speaking exam which develops essential skills for constructing and delivering talks, presentations and speeches.

confidence, physical presence and a strong speaking voice. We have been looking at preparing for acting exams and this involves achieving a strong speaking voice and good memory skills by learning and performing monologues.

“Public speaking… which develops essential skills for constructing and delivering talks, presentations and speeches.“ Cathy

We look forward to entering our first boys for LAMDA at LGS in the Spring.

Sullivan,

Mrs Cathy Sullivan, LAMDA Tutor, LGS

tutor

LAMDA

Alternatively some are choosing to focus on LAMDA’s performance examinations which use drama to develop self-

Edinburgh Update for Fringe 2017 Edinburgh auditions take place this week for the 2 shows that Year 12 and 13 LHS and LGS students will take up to the Fringe Festival.

The growing popularity of the Fringe experience means this year we are filling 2 flats for 10 in the University

accommodation.

One of the plays is the Steven Berkoff class satire ‘Darling, You Were Marvellous’, a parody of loveydom’. This will be performed in the venue bar, set after a fictional performance.

The other is Enda Walsh’s fast paced and biting exploration of teen behaviour ‘Chatroom’, also a major film.

RIP/Caged—Edinburgh 2016 Attending the Edinburgh fringe festival was an immensely rewarding experience, the addition of a great group of friends and wonderful teachers only completed the week. Being given the chance to perform at the Fringe was an opportunity that I never expected to have as a student at school and I’m so glad I took it. The week was filled to burst with things to do from flyering before the show , performing on stage in pieces devised by fellow

students, seeing an insane amount of shows and our attempts at cooking for ourselves. We also had the opportunity to stay in actual university accommodation, all of us having our own room, which was a great experience as it gave us all an insight into university life.

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part of the week and I think all of us gained a huge deal of experience from this which we have all gone on to use in the future.

If you ever get the chance to go to the Edinburgh fringe festival I would “If you ever I have so many fond memories highly recommend it and we are so from this trip and also probably lost grateful to the Miss Boon, Mrs Bruton get the a few pounds from the amount of and Miss Hooper for making this week chance to running required to get to see possible. go to the shows on time, of course gaining Ellie Higton, Year 13 the weight all over again by eating Edinburgh just a single deep fried mars bar. fringe Deciding which shows to go and festival I watch was probably the hardest would highly recommend

Year 8 & 9 Drama Clubs Report

it . ” Ellie Higton, Year 13

What is new this year is THE Drama Club. I've heard of this year 8-9 legacy, which I am trying to live up to with the other Drama Prefects. Drama club this year has been a roller coaster of the bazaar. So far we've kept it relaxed, having gone through a variety of games with both the boys AND GIRLS. Yes I did say girls... (When the boys don't scare them off). We are currently starting rehearsing a comedy partially inspired

by the year 9s, 'The Play That Goes Wrong', that we are excited to perform in the New Director's Season. I can assure you it is incredibly funny and I am happy to say actors and anything but amateurs. After NDS who knows where we'll go and what we'll do. I certainly don't!

Lawrence Ong, Year 2 Drama Prefect

LHS House Drama Report House drama has kicked off to a great start this year with the New Year twelve drama prefects planning exciting sessions for the younger pupils.

The new prefects are, Grace Kent and Ellie Leeson for Storer, Kate Cherenkova, Georgia Keen and Rosie Morris for Fearon, Zahra Jassi and

Chloe Robinson for Hastings and Emma Barrett and Jessica Jackson for Burton.

The weekly sessions for the younger pupils include a wide variety of activities, ranging from drama games to improvisation. A few of the houses have also been looking at script work, giving the girls the chance to direct their own scenes.

The weekly club is something all the girls in years seven to ten are able to take part in if they wish and it gives them the chance to bond with different year groups whilst also learning drama. I thoroughly look forward to seeing what the girls will produce for the house drama competition in the summer.

Danni Starkey, LHS Drama Prefect Year 13

Year 6 & 7 Drama Clubs report It's been a very enthusiastic start to the academic year for the boys and girls of the Year 6 and 7 drama club.

The students have been taking great leaps into the world of drama, learning about the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication onstage in conveying character and subtext.

The group have not only see an increase to their confidence, but also consequently in their ability to perform!

The boys of LGS and girls of LHS have been using their voices to create a wide variety of characters from Scottish accents to an scarily good impression of Donald Trump!

It has been great to see some students taking interest in performing monologues. This is so that by the end of this academic year, we plan to have a performance where the group can show off these skills to family and friends.

Exciting times!

Tom Sanderson, Drama Prefect, Year 13

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“...by the end of this academic year, we plan to have a performance where the group can show off these skills to family and friends.

Exciting times! “ Tom Sanderson Year 13

Swallows & Amazons—Lower School Show This year’s lower school production is the classic ’Swallows and Amazons’, originally written by Arthur Ransome, adapted for stage

by Helen Edmundson and Neil Hannona.

Over 60 students from LGS and LHS auditioned at the end of November for approximately 15 roles. The level of talent was extremely high and it presented Miss Hooper and Joe Allen, an

LGS OB, with a real headache for casting.

The plot follows John, Susan, Titty and Roger as they are are granted their wish to set sail on their beloved Swallow, they know it will be the summer holiday of a lifetime. The adventure truly begins when they encounter Nancy and Peggy, the self-proclaimed Amazon Pirates, and the dastardly Captain Flint.

Tickets available after Easter.

Miss Hooper, Drama teacher LGS/LHS

A Splendid Production of Macbeth As we write the talented, irreverent and hilarious Splendid Theatre Company are en route to LGS Drama Studio with their new production of Macbeth.

They will be performing to Year s 9—13 students of both Drama and English to support the Legacy specification in Unit 2 GCSE Drama coursework,, as well as the new specification GCSE Year 10

students in learning devising skills, GCSE English work, AS Live Theatre Reviews and A2 devising. All in all a valuable experience.

We are particularly looking forward to the scene entitled ‘Song of the Murder of a King— Regicide!’

Loughborough High School 3 Burton Walks Loughborough LE11 2DU 01509 212348 Loughborough Grammar School Burton Walks Loughborough LE11 2DU

s.boon@leshigh.org r.hooper@leshigh.org

01509 283760, direct line to the English & Drama Office s.bruton@lesgrammar.org r.hooper@lesgrammar.org

@drama_les

Up coming trip—The Play That Goes Wrong!

Following the decision of the Year 8 & 9 Drama trip to perform The Play That Goes Wrong, the LGS and LHS Drama department have booked a trip for interested students to see the show at Curve, Leicester in March 2017.

The Company behind this show are Mischief Theatre Company, who also created peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery. They began by performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and developed their fast paced style.

Mischief Theatre is a comedy theatre company based in London, first formed in 2008 by a group of graduates and students of The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Since first forming the company has created and presented a number of

productions across the UK and in Europe.

In their mission statement Mischief Theatre put their case as being dedicated to

creating engaging and exciting, improvised and scripted comedy theatre of an excellent standard through well honed improvisational and comedic technique and

strong theatrical ensemble work.

Following the work of our own students performing original at the 2016 Festival we can only hope that , now at University in Exeter and Royal Holloway on Drama courses, that Henry Muldoon and Hamza Ali continue to go from strength to strength.

Or that this year’s New Director’s similarly take up the challenge.

No pressure though!

Mrs Bruton & Miss Boon, LGS, LHS