Summer Newsletter 2015

LES Drama News S P R I N G

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: 

John by DV8 Warwick Arts

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Oppenheimer RSC, Stratford

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time, Curve Leicester

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

‘Over 2 By Christmas’ Festival Success

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Into the Woods

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Othello reviewed

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Filming in the Xmas Hols

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T E R M

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The Twits SB From Wednesday 4th March to Saturday 7th March 2015 the LHS and LGS students will be presenting our major school production ‘Blood Brothers—the play’, written

by Willy Russell.

Bizarrely it still retains the Marilyn Monroe song in the opening of the show, but then the songs are quickly forgotten amongst the fast paced scenes, plot twists and emotions of the story of Mickey and Edward.

The young year 9 and 10 cast begin in the principal roles, before a symbolic theatrical moment involving ties where the young Mickey, Edward, Linda and Sammy morph into their teenage to mid twenties counterparts occurs.

Josh Rice, who plays the older Mickey, writes;

“The cast for Blood Brothers is amazing, there are many of our talented Sixth Form students, ably supported by

Rehearsals for Passing Sentence

Yr9 and 10 chorus.

When I found out I would be playing Mickey I was really excited until I found out about the Scouse accent! Mrs

Bruton seemed to think it would be effective to make us keep in the Scouse—though to be fair, the play is set in Liverpool. Fortunately the likes of Rachel Thompson and Isi Webb–Jenkins have absolutely nailed the Scouse, so we should be alright! It should be worth coming to see the show just to watch my vocal development and check I do not venture into Scots or Welsh territory!

Whilst the odd accent maybe interesting until our dialect coach helps out, the set will be epic. This involves a revolving stage, which will be stunning as it moves between the different classes and locations.

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 now from LGS and LHS staff

NDS KE Following the success of the performance at Curve, Leicester the cast reprised A Taming of the Shrew for an LES audience who might have missed out first time around.

The cast and Miss Eastwood did a fantastic job of reestablishing, resetting and remembering all their movements and dialogue

from back in November to realise a fantastic performance once again, this time supported by many staff from LES, parents and students. Next academic year we look forward to replicating this years successes with a version of Twelfth Night directed by Mrs Bruton. Auditions will be held in the summer term, we look forward to seeing many LHS

and LGS students there!

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Blood Brothers SBL ‘The maturity and raw emotion of the performances of all was stunning and the atmosphere was electric.’

Mr Peter Sergeant Over by Christmas was a fabulous evening and Mr Sergeant summed up how most of the audience felt as they left the auditorium on both evenings.

“The day was both incredibly straining (I can’t say I didn’t feel it the next day) and incredibly rewarding” Louis, Year 10

A member of the incredible Frantic Assembly team, the team behind incredible pieces such as, most recently “Othello”, came in to give boys from year 10/11 a workshop on physical theatre. The main focus was the use of lifts, in diverse manners to use in abstract, scenarios. There was an entire lift where the lifter didn’t even used his hands. Not only did it test our physical strength, but

Congratulations to the cast who worked extremely hard to ensure that they provided both an evening of entertainment but also set the appropriate tone for such a sensitive and powerful subject matter.

The drama staff all felt that it was an ideal opportunity for the year 11 and 12 to hone their

tested what we thought we were capable of.

From the start, there were high levels of physical intensity. We then dove straight in to some physically challenging lifts and leans. As boys, we remained sure we could carry whoever stepped in our way, which resulted in multiple calamities, with bodies flying everywhere.

performance skills in front of an audience before they have to undertake the nerve racking task of performing in front of an examiner later in the year. They all rose to the challenge and we hope that it has given them an invaluable experience and that they can take what they have gained forward to their practical exams in March and May. Miss Boon

The day was both incredibly straining (I can’t say I didn’t feel it the next day) and incredibly rewarding. It was a testament to what we could do, and we could take new knowledge and apply it our own work We not only learnt about physical theatre, but also the teamwork and cooperation involved.

Louis May, GCSE Drama student

Fairfield Workshops SBL I was asked to audition for a part in a short play called Ringo which was being filmed by an old LGS pupil, Jack Burke.

I turned up for the audition at school with Jack and was asked to read out lines of script. There were a number of other boys also auditioning for parts. I was told later that day that LES

DRAMA

NEWS

I had gained the part of ‘The Bully’. I was advised of the filming schedule and asked to attend a date in the Christmas holiday to film . My part was being recorded in the woods in Newtown Linford. The filming took about 2 ½ hours and involved acting like a bully towards a younger child.

Other LGS boys were playing other bullies, we filmed a

number of times to make sure that the takes was correct. I am still waiting to see the finished film, Jack has now completed the edit and had 3 test screenings to get audience feedback.

The film is now the hands of the post production team and they are hoping to get the film released by the end of January. Thanks to Miss Eastwood for organising this opportunity!

Josh Ellis, Year 8

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Trip—Matilda SBL NDS Performance February 2014

On the 21st of November we were lucky enough to take part in a workshop run by the physical theatre company, Frantic

Assembly. Having seen Frantic's production of Othello a week prior to we were all excited at the opportunity to explore the

LGS Drama Club reports KE Hamza Ali—Drama prefect

reports on Autumn term with Year 6 and 7.

In drama club during Autumn term we did a variety of drama games and warm ups that develop theatrical ability.

In order to form a basis for the future we did exercises to explore different styles of drama and how to perform them effectively, ranging from slapstick to physical

theatre and also the use of GEMS. The group all enjoyed being creative, having an output for energy and being able to work together with their friends. This term we will be exploring even more elements of drama including characterisation and conveying emotion, to name a couple, and also the usual fair share of drama games!

physical aspects of the play for ourselves. The workshop ran from 4-6 and we took part in many different exercises in groups and pairs.

Throughout we were given a great insight into how devices and techniques were used to create the physical sequences in Othello. Not only was this workshop useful, it was also a lot of fun and inspired us to use more physical theatre when devising our own work.

Grace Kent, Year 10

“The group all enjoyed being

Drama Club—Year 8 & 9

creative,

We've managed to have a lot of fun so far in the club and are starting to move away from games to more drama focused games. We recently had a really good session where we got the kids to create a picture together through mime, something our Drama group struggled with at AS Level.

having an

The group has now been narrowed down to the regulars, who we're optimistic will be ready to put on a play at the end of the year.

Hamza Ali 12

output for energy and being able to work together with friends.“

George Evans, Jacob Leeson, Jacob Pitts

Oppenheimer—joint Physics & Drama trip A cross curricular Drama and Physics theatre trip has been organised to see Oppenheimer at the Swan Theatre on Monday 23rd February 2015.

Students from Years 11-13 have been invited to see the RSC production directed by Tom Morton-Smith in Cambridge.

Julius Oppenheimer, an American physicist was a key

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figure in the development of the atomic bomb during WW2. The play tells the story of Oppenheimer and the race for atomic mastery.

A cross curricular Drama and Physics theatre trip has been organised to see Oppenheimer at the Swan Theatre on Monday 23rd February 2015. Students from Years 11-13 have been

invited to see the RSC production directed by Tom Morton-Smith in Cambridge.

Julius Oppenheimer, an American physicist was a key figure in the development of the atomic bomb during WW2. The play tells the story of Oppenheimer and the race for atomic mastery.

Curious Incident trip to Curve Curious Incident on National acclaimed show, The tour Curious Incident of the currently Dog in the Night-Time.

The play won seven Olivier Awards in 2013 and is now embarking on its first ever nationwide tour. 15 year old, Christopher falls under suspicion of killing his neighbour’s dog and the On 10th June 2015, Year 9 journey that follows upturns and 10 Drama students will his world. be given the opportunity to visit The Curve, Leicester to see The National Theatre’s

Yr13 Forced Ent For the November production by LHS and LGS GCSE and AS students, we had a difficult situation—the current tech team and stalwarts of the lighting and sound boards were either onstage or unavailable.

Step forward 3 very keen Year 9 students, who had recently been lighting their own performances on a very basic level for their Digital Safety

performances in class.

Kieran Hopewell, Aidan Bennewith and Harry Hercock took over and did a fantastic job of bringing the performance to life technicallly, under the ever watchful eye of Mr Viccars.

Aidan Bennewith writes; ”For Over By Christmas, Kieran, Harry and I did the lighting and part of the sound.

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The production has been choreographed by the award winning Frantic Assembly and we hope to offer workshops to the Year 9 prospective Drama students.

Letters to follow later in the term.

First we had to make notes on the production such as what moods the different scenes were and what colours went with those moods.

The next step was to test the mood lighting and if it works we had to code into a cue on the jester lighting board, which when activated would bring up the colour and brightness we had set to each cue.

We also had to put cue lines of dialogue or action onstage with the code, so when we heard that line or saw that action, we pushed the next cue button and it would activate the next cue.

It was brilliant!”

“… so when we heard that line or saw that action, we pushed the next cue button and it would activate the next cue.

It was brilliant!”

Aidan Bennewith, Year 9

The Twits—top secret! monkeying around’ earlier this Who will term. play the eponymous Everyone was put through their paces and had to demonstrate roles?

The LES Drama Department was delighted at the turn out at the recent lower years audition for The Twits. 61 girls and boys from years 7, 8 and 9 joined Miss Boon for some

their skills in being a monkey (an important attribute when playing a Muggle-wump). Mrs Bruton and Drama prefect Zoe Sarrett, also were on hand to spot those auditionees who were working well in a team (very important for putting on a performance) and remaining focused – at all times.

Everyone was great and it was a

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very difficult job to pick out only 18 cast members. Congratulations to everyone who came along and do try again next time.

Everyone was surprised to hear that the two ‘main’ roles had already been taken, by none other, two members of the LGS and LHS science departments. Yet, that is top secret.

You will have to come and see the production in June to see who the Twits are!

“… The beauty of

Miss Boon

being a part of the drama

39 Steps The beauty of being a part of the drama community at LES is the amount of trips available. The autumn term was full of excitement and included two excellent trips to the theatre.

The first included a bus to the Curve theatre in Leicester which was host to the brilliant One Man Two Guvnors. The Commedia dell’arte inspired play, based in 1963 Brighton,

community at LES is the amount of

served as a clever comedy for all ages with the ability to captivate the audience.

Several scenes of slapstick alongside fast and memorable quotes caused roars from the crowd for more whilst audience participation quickly quietened the auditorium again; however everyone left the theatre with pains in their sides and smiles on their faces.

trips available. ” Milo Hacker, Year 12

Antigone The second trip was to the county of Brum where the fantastic Frantic Assembly were stopping off on their tour of England and Scotland. On hearing about the brilliant physical theatre group’s take on Shakespeare’s Othello, tickets quickly came hard to

come by and it’s no wonder why. With spectacular performances from an exceptional cast, the evening was well spent.

Amazing visuals on stage kept the audience gasping from beginning to end. Go and see it if you have the chance. By Milo Hacker

Othello by Frantic Assembly at Birmingham Rep

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Edinburgh SB

Our A level drama course went to see The Last Adventure by Forced Entertainment at Warwick Arts Centre on the 1st of

KE As every other LGS and LHS student was still abed the first Monday and Tuesday of the Christmas holidays a few keen drama students made their way, in full uniform, to the Sixth Form common room or ’green room’ as it was for the day to be filmed for a national educational advertising campaign for the

October. As part of our A2 course for Unit 3 we are currently devising our own performance working in the style of Forced

Entertainment. Their performances originate from improvisation from a collaborative group of people, instead of a script. Their work tends to divide audience and this is a concept that some of us found difficult to comprehend at first because 'The Last Adventure' was different to other style that we have previously used in devising and performance and we therefore weren't used to it. Following subsequent research more of their previous work, we are now creating our own performances based on the style of Forced Entertainment, and enjoying it!

“We are now creating our own performance based on the style of Forced Entertainme nt, and enjoying it! “

Evie Crane, Year 13

Evie Crane, Year 13

educational software company Impero. 30 Year 7 to 12 students took part in a variety of activities in Science, Design, the Quad and various other locations to create the 2 minute advertisement with professional actors who played other staff and the main character Mr Hart.

Please do check out the

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SBL Year 13 Drama students visited an intimate , albeit draughty venue, MAC Birmingham that used to be a cinema for Splendid Production’s version of Woyzeck by Georg Buchner.

Students have to take on the mantel of director in the Unit 4 written examination and how

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their own version would be realised in performance. The second element is the planning of rehearsals exercises to enable their cast to full inhabit their roles. Splendid’s version was a feast of Brechtian techniques with the cast alienating us and striking the appropriate gestus with enthusiasm.

Splendid Produc on’s Woyzeck; the stabbing of Marie

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

s.boon@leshigh.org

Burton Walks

k.eastwood@leshigh.org

Loughborough LE11 2DU 01509 283760, direct line to the

@drama_les

English & Drama Office s.bruton-lang@lesgrammar.org k.eastwood@lesgrammar.org

LHS House Drama update The annual house drama competition is one of the highlights of the school year at LHS. It is overseen by the Head of Drama Miss Boon but it wouldn't be as successful if it wasn’t for the year 12 drama prefects who give up their valuable time to run lunchtime clubs throughout the year and organise the auditions and subsequent rehearsals. Imogen Douglas and Sarah Walsh (drama prefects for Storer) explain how they have found the experience so far. “ We have enjoyed the transition from being directed to directing that running house drama has opened for us and its been especially rewarding to see the enthusiasm as well as commitment from the younger students, who have regularly attended the initial house drama club.

Moreover it has been satisfying to witness first-hand the exceptional dramatic talent that the students of LHS possess.

Furthermore its been exciting for us to choose the plays and

musicals we want to direct in addition to cast and call back like a real dramatic production.

The students have shown great preparation at their auditions and we would like to thank them for their efforts.

We feel that running house drama this year has benefited us greatly in improving our confidence and also our leadership skills.

Although we anticipate that it will require lots of dedication on our part we are thoroughly looking forward to starting rehearsals and seeing our hard work pay off at the culminating house drama competition in July. “ Imogen Douglas and Sarah Walsh , Year 12