Performing Arts Brochure 2013- 2014

2013-2014

DRAMA DANCE MUSIC ART

The Performing Arts Centre was made possible by the support of parents, ONLs and Friends of NLCS. Their support enabled the girls to take part in the production of 38 shows and concerts last year, developing their many talents, performance skills and confidence to assist them on their pathway to becoming assured, well-rounded young adults.

Donations of £1,000 or more to the School’s capital or bursary funds allows us to commemorate your gift or family’s involvement with NLCS by putting an etching into the glass panel of the Performing Arts Centre.

We would be delighted to welcome you to any of the events listed in this programme and hope that you enjoy the high standards and great enthusiasm the girls bring to these productions.

For tickets to any event please contact Lyn Degnan, the Performing Arts Secretary on 0208 951 6369 or email ldegnan@nlcs.org.uk

CONTENTS DRAMA

2

DANCE

5

MUSIC

6

THE VISUAL ARTS

9

ADDITIONAL ARTS EVENTS

11

JUNIOR SCHOOL

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Drama The Middle School Play: 20 and 21 November 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

DAISY PULLS IT OFF Denise Deegan’s play is a parody of wholesome adventure stories and is an affectionate observation of life in a boarding school for girls in the 1920s. The energetic heroine, Daisy Meredith, and her best friend, Trixie Martin, search for missing treasure, overcome false accusations, save the lives of their arch-enemies and discover that the mysterious stranger seen around the school grounds is Daisy’s long-lost father. Students from Years 8 and 9 will bring all the characters to life in this exciting production.

Original Dance Work by Senior Girls: 12 December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

OTIS Following the success of Nina in 2011, and drawing on the wonderful music of Otis Redding, this piece aims to capture something of the essence of this man’s life and career.

Using movement, mime and dance and drawing on recent documentary footage, audiences will be given a glimpse into this extraordinary man’s short life.

THE YEAR 13 STUDENT-DIRECTED PLAY: 30 January and 1 February 2014 at 7.30pm in the Drama Studio The opportunity to direct a play of their choosing will be offered to Year 13 students. Previous productions have included a range of quality texts and have demonstrated the ability of our students to bring complex and challenging work to life.

Year 9 Performance Work: 5 February 2014 at 4.45pm in the Performing Arts Centre

VARIETY To develop their performance and presentation skills, all Year 9 students will have the opportunity to present work in the Performing Arts Centre. Drawing on practical work developed in lessons, this is an exciting chance to share new and original material.

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The Performing Arts 2013-2014

DRAMA The Senior Play: 12, 13 and 15 March 2014 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON Written by Mike Bartlett and directed by Rupert Goold in a co-production with Headlong, Earthquakes In London was first performed at the Cottesloe Theatre in 2010. The play is an account of life, love and profound unease in present-day London, but it also looks back to 1968 and forward to the years 2026, and 2525. The work traces the lives of three sisters who were abandoned by their father, a climate scientist, who predicts environmental disaster. One of the first reviewers described the play as “the theatrical equivalent of a thrilling roller coaster ride. It swoops and twists, rushes and soars, and provides a great shot of adrenalin-fuelled excitement”.

This exciting new work will be brought to life by a large cast, working in the Performing Arts Centre in a way never seen before.

The Years 7 and 8 Production: 26 and 27 March 2014 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

BLOOD BROTHERS First performed in Liverpool in November 1981 having been commissioned by Paul Harman’s Merseyside Young People’s Theatre Company, Years 7 & 8 will perform Willy Russell’s play Blood Brothers. Tracing the story of twins who were separated at birth, this innovative and exciting version will use ensemble work and cast doubling to bring the action to life.

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DRAMA The Year 10 Summer Productions: 24 and 25 June 2014 at 7.30pm in the Drama Studio

AN EVENING OF SHAKESPEARE To mark William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, the Year 10 GCSE students will be performing adaptations of some of his plays.

The Year 11 Production: Sunday 29th June 2014 at 5pm in the Drama Studio

GOING NOWHERE Mirroring the rehearsal routines of Shakespeare’s actors, students from Year 11 will have only one full rehearsal to prepare this new play written by Deborah Gibbs, Director of Drama. This comedy explores what happens when a group of people find themselves stuck in traffic on the M25 when they should really be somewhere else.

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Dance 26 November 2013 at 7pm in the Performing Arts Centre

YEAR 7 DANCE DISPLAY Involving all students in Year 7, the annual Dance Display is one of the highlights of the Middle School Calendar. Girls take part in a variety of dances choreographed around a given theme or idea. This year, our inspiration comes from musical theatre. We will be performing a variety of pieces that reflect the music, dance style and story line from the numerous West End musicals.

30 June 2014 at 7pm in the Sports Hall

WHOLE SCHOOL GYM & DANCE DISPLAY This innovative and impressive display brings together girls from Years 2 to 13. The show includes gymnastics, dance, cheerleading and trampolining routines. It is a wonderful opportunity for girls of all ages to perform together. Some of the most exciting pieces have been performed by a combination of First School students and Sixth Formers.

SUMMER TERM BALLROOM DANCING Following the success of the event over the past few years, Year 12 girls will once again join with Year 12 boys from The John Lyon School for an intensive course of ballroom dance lessons culminating in a performance of newly choreographed routines.

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Music 3 October 2013 at 7.30pm in the Music School

IGCSE CONCERT Students taking the IGCSE music course have been working on writing two compositions as part of their examination submission. 12 students will perform one of their compositions on this evening and it is an exciting chance for them to hear their work presented in public for the first time.

14 November 2013 at 7.30pm in the Music School

FLUTE CONCERT Juniors and Years 10-13 The Flute Concert gives students of Mr Mitchell the opportunity to perform solos and participate in ensembles.

17 November 2013 at 3pm in the Music School

SINGING CONCERT This is a new concert which is being introduced for the first time to give many more of our singers the opportunity to perform in public.

24 November 2013 at 2.30pm in the Music School

VIOLIN AND PIANO CONCERT This popular annual concert will be given by pupils of Mr Underwood and Mr Lawrence. This is a lovely opportunity for students to play solos and/or take part in ensembles.

SENIOR CONCERT: 28 November 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

Celebrating Britten, Verdi and Wagner To mark the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth, and the bicentenary of Verdi and Wagner, the Senior Choir will sing Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, one of his most treasured works for upper voices. The concert will also feature many other items including the Senior Orchestra playing Wagner, the Chandos Singers singing Agnus Dei from Britten’s War Requiem and the newly formed Show Choir.

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Music 11 December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

MIDDLE SCHOOL FESTIVE CONCERT To celebrate the end of term, the annual festive concert will see a number of choirs, ensembles and the Middle School Orchestra playing a variety of both serious and lighter selections of music. Some of the musical items will have a Christmas theme.

12 December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Main School Hall

CAROL SERVICE Girls are invited to join the Carol Choir and take part in a festival of 9 lessons and carols. Parents of Year 13 are invited to this service.

6 February 2014 at 5pm-9pm in the Music School

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT The annual Chamber Music Concert will see performances throughout the Senior School of piano trios, quartets and other mixed ensembles. Many of these groups will be performing at the South East Chamber Music for Schools later in the month.

February 2014 in the Music School

CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION 1st Round The first round of the Chamber Music Competition will take place at North London Collegiate School. Parents and friends are welcome to attend this event. North London groups will perform their repertoire and receive specialist coaching given by professional Chamber Music players.

18 March 2014 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

SENIOR CONCERT Orchestras and choirs will take part in this end of term concert. Large instrumental ensembles will also perform.

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MUSIC 19 March 2014 (Evening)

CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION Finals Finals of the South East Chamber Music Competition will be held at St John’s Smith Square.

7 May 2014 at 7.30pm in the Music School

CLARINET CONCERT This annual clarinet concert directed by Mrs Haigh will feature over 50 clarinettists in various ensembles throughout the school in a celebration of the instrument.

19 June 2014 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CONCERT The Year 7 Choir, Middle School Chamber Choir, Orchestra and various ensembles will take part in an end of year concert.

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Visual Arts SUZY TAYLOR 17 September- 17 October 2013 in the PAC galleries with a private view on 17 October Suzy is a papercutting artist who works from her home studio in Hertfordshire. All Suzy’s papercuts are hand-drawn, then meticulously cut with a blade from a single piece of paper. As well as exhibiting, she works on both private and public commissions.

OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE: ARTISTS REMAKE THE TAROT A Hayward Touring/Focal Point Gallery exhibition 9 November- 15 December 2013 in the PAC galleries The Tarot is a pack of playing cards originating in Italy in the 15th century. Used in most of Europe to play games, in the English-speaking world the tarot is generally associated with divination. A rich source of imagery, it includes such archetypes as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The High Priest, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, The Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgment, and The World.

For this project, seventy-eight artists, whose work encompasses a variety of formal, conceptual, expressionist, literary or design-based approaches, have been asked to create a card for a contemporary tarot pack. Each artist has been drawn a card from the classic Tarot de Marseilles deck, and invited to interpret it concisely through the lens of their own practice.

In this exhibition, the artists’ original artworks, all produced to a standard A3 format, will be shown framed, accompanied by a brief synopsis of each card.

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Visual Arts The Art Society’s Annual Charitable Show: 9 December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

THE FANTASY FASHION SHOW This exciting event continues to raise money for KSDP a charity set up in memory of ONL, Stephanie Lee. Organised by The Art Society, the evening promises to be as vibrant and enjoyable as ever.

KSDP works with the Karenni people, providing basic needs and education in the smallest and poorest of the ethnic minority states in Burma. Around 23,000 Karenni people reside in camps in Mae Hong Son province. Some of these people have lived in camps for over 15 years; there are children who have never seen the outside world. The refugees are confined to the camp and they are not allowed to work, so they rely on support from humanitarian organizations. The charity fashion show, which is now in its 16th year, involves girls of all ages who design, make and model an array of highly imaginative costumes.

A Level, IB & GCSE Art Exhibitions Summer Term 2014 The A-level and GCSE Art Exhibitions are mounted towards the end of the Summer Term and the private views take place on the day of the Valedictory Assembly and in the last week of term. Each year, the girls present coursework and final examination pieces for exhibition. The range and quality of the work on show is truly breathtaking, and there is a chance to discuss the work with teachers and the girls themselves over drinks.

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Additional Arts events 17 October 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

ARTS CELEBRATION Following the highly successful introduction of this event in 2010 the Drama, Music, Dance & Art departments will once again collaborate on a multi-disciplinary Arts Celebration. The evening will consist of a private view of the Suzi Taylor exhibition in the PAC Galleries, followed by performances of music, dance, and drama inspired by the fields of film and television.

Year 7’s Festive Celebration: 2 December 2013 at 4pm in the Dining Hall & 7pm in the Drama Studio

THE LIVABILITY PANTOMIME Each year, the residents of the Livability Home are invited to a Christmas celebration at the school, ending with this light-hearted and traditional excuse for some seasonal fun. Year 7 perform with directorial support from Year 12 students. This will be followed by a public performance in the Drama Studio.

5 December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

A NIGHT ON BROADWAY For the first time students from the Performing Arts Society direct their own musical theatre event.

Founder’s Day: 4 April 2014

THE FOUNDER’S DAY PLAYS Throughout the school there are four separate, specially written, Founder’s Day Plays based on the theme for the Headmistress’s Founder’s Day Address. These performances by students in the Senior School, the Middle School, the Lower School and the First School, incorporate art, music, dance and drama in highly entertaining and innovative ways. Founder’s Day is an annual event which traditionally falls on the last day of the Spring Term.

The Year 12 Annual Revue: 2 July 2014 at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre

CANONS FOLLIES All girls in Year 12 perform in this satirical revue, which includes dance, music and comedy performances and sketches from students across the school. Year 12 write, produce and direct the piece as a whole, providing a witty and always lively alternative view of North London.

Senior Committee students are in charge of auditioning and running the show and perform their own ‘links’ on the night.

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JUNIOR SCHOOL 8 November 2013

YEAR 4 PRODUCTION The Year 4 production gives the Lower School girls the opportunity to participate in a musical play in the inspirational setting of the Performing Arts Centre. The girls will develop their performance skills in a collaboration of music, dance and drama.

15 November 2013

YEAR 3 PRODUCTION Teambuilding and dramatic skills are our focus in Year 3, as the girls join together in this performance in the Lower School Hall, combining their acting and singing skills.

26, 27, 28 November 2013

THE FIRST SCHOOL PRODUCTION All the First School girls take part in our own musical adaptation of a well-known story. The First School Hall will be magically transformed as the setting for this year’s production.

4 December 2013

LOWER SCHOOL FESTIVE CONCERT Junior girls entertain parents with their voices, instruments and festive spirit in the Performing Arts Centre.

27 February 2014

INSTRUMENTALISTS’ CONCERT Chamber groups, ensembles and soloists perform for parents and friends on instruments ranging from trumpets and cellos to guitars and harps in the Performing Arts Centre.

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JUNIOR SCHOOL 17 June 2014

THE SUMMER CONCERT The two performances of this themed concert involve all the Lower School girls in choral singing and orchestral music. The Performing Arts Centre will be filled with parents and friends for this event.

26 June 2014

YEAR 6 PRODUCTION Year 6 girls have the opportunity to perform a full-scale production in the Performing Arts Centre, consolidating their dramatic and performance skills before moving on to the next stage of their education. The Year 6 production has traditionally proven to be a wonderful way of showcasing their individual talents and achievements as they celebrate the time they have spent in the Junior School.

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NLCS is a school that celebrates the dynamic, creative spirit of our girls.

We encourage all girls to participate in a spirit of responsibility, respect and support for each other. As an educational charity, we rely on the gifts of our supporters. If you would like to know more about the development of the school then please contact the Development Director, Mr Joseph Voelker on jvoelker@nlcs.org.uk who would be pleased to discuss how you can become a supporter of the NLCS.

Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7RJ www.nlcs.org.uk Email: office@nlcs.org.uk Senior School - Tel: 020 8952 0912 Fax: 020 8951 1391 Junior School - Tel: 020 8952 1276 Fax: 020 8951 1293 Bursary - Tel: 020 8952 7041 Fax: 020 8905 6979 Swimming Pool - Tel: 020 8951 5402 Registered Charity No.1115843