Performing Arts 2023: A New Key Stage 3 Venture

The strength of Performing Arts at Stoke College has long been celebrated with a focus on equipping students with skills that will bring life-long benefits across a wide range of future careers. Summer 2023 sees a new addition to Performing Arts calendar - the Key Stage 3 production.

This term has seen Stoke College’s Performing Arts department take on the tremendous success of West Side Story and build a new found confidence. For the first time Stoke College has introduced a Key Stage 3 production. Offering an opportunity for younger students to take on lead roles and develop their confidence, team work and self-expression. This years’ first production is The Jungle Book. With design from Isla, Year 12 (see right), backstage and design led by Miss Coll and music led by Dr Olyver this is a fantastic team achievement in a very short term. Miss Davey has loved directing the younger year groups, seeing the talent and interest promises for an exciting future within the Performing Arts at Stoke College.

Alongside The Jungle Book we have just finished our annual Arts Festival, where we said goodbye to our Year 13 students who passed their passion for the arts on to the younger year groups. It was a night of joy, celebration and fun. Supported by the PTA it showcases the best of Stoke as a family working together.

In other areas it is important to mention LAMDA and the fantastic work happening, taught by Miss Wieland. We are thrilled to report that this year all our students have been awarded with a distinction. Ellie Lytton inspired us all, achieving 100% in her final grade 8 examination. This is rare and is an example of the calibre of students who are progressing through the Performing Arts Department.

‘I have grown so much as a person from participating in Performing Arts at Stoke. The wide variety of opportunities on offer, including Musicals, Drama Evenings, Choir and LAMDA, have built my confidence and creativity and taught me how to take risks to keep improving. Most of all I have loved the experience of being part of a whole school team working on every aspect of a production. It was an incredible feeling when all our hard work came together in our recent performance of West Side Story. Without the amazing support of the staff and the encouraging Stoke environment I might not have considered Performing Arts as a potential career and I can’t wait to take my next step studying Musical Theatre at Drama School.’, Ellie L, Year 13.

Ellie has been studying Drama at Stoke College since Year 7 and now looks forward to taking her skills and talent to the prestigious Leeds Conservatoire to study Musical Theatre.

Congratulations to two Year 8 students, Lily and Harriet for their stunning designs for the Stoke College Showcase publicity. Miss Coll chose their work to be used to promote our traditional end-of-year performance because, together, they encapsulate the excitement of the Stoke College Permorming Arts faculty.