National Theatre Connections Festival 2023

For the last couple of months, since close to the beginning of the academic year a combination of Year 10 and 12 students have been working towards an incredible opportunity. The National Theatre Connections Festival 2023, whereby everyone who applies is given a play to do, from some well-known and upcoming playwrights. You may know that a famous play that comes from this festival is ‘DNA’, which the actress Claire Foy acted in the original production of a group that won as a character named Jan. So how superb is it that our school took part in such a monumental festival. Our school and other companies got the play ‘Model Behaviour’, by Jon Brittain, our school did a performance to some students, parents and teachers in our school. Later on, to go to a theatre and perform for some judges. Fortunately, we later found out that our school won and would perform this play at the National Theatre, alongside other schools and companies, performing other plays.

On Friday 23rd June 2023 at 7:00pm, at the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, some of our schools students from Year 10 & 12 performed. In attendance, were many students from the school as well as teachers, from different subjects for support and encouragement as well as our Headteacher, Mr Connolly and some other members of SLT.

The cast: Kaisen Anderson, Eryn Atror, Temi Fagbaye, Milo Gray, Nabila Karim, Ruby Nganga, Osas Obasuyi-Enehikhare, Joshua Ogundeyin and Ericka Ramos.

Alongside: Miss. Biggs (Director), Mr. Anderson (Assistant Director), Josh-Moses Amasse (Lighting), Aaron Bony (Sound).

This group of students and teachers have worked exceptionally well, they had a standing ovation from a packed audience, many of the audience members congratulating them for committing countless hours to this project, whilst juggling their exams effectively. Every single student went onto the stage and gave it their absolute best and truly more. Our drama teachers did a fantastic job and they truly deserve the greatest amount of our appreciation. I am so proud to be an expressive arts prefect, and be surrounded by the most talented, hard-working students and teachers. This was an incredible achievement that all involved will never forget. In addition, one which I will never forget, as I saw the passion and friendships which grew from such an incredible experience that so little people only get once. I truly look forward to the future expressive arts opportunities which are yet to come. I also hope to see more of these exceptional actresses and actors and I can imagine many of you are also!

Do be sure, we will let you know about any future opportunities and our students work. We encourage more students to involve themselves within all expressive arts opportunities. Once again thank you for all the support given, Miss. Biggs and Mr. Anderson, the crew Josh and Aaron. Most of all also the incredible and phenomenal cast who have poured countless hours, rehearsals, learning and co-operating with each other to produce a successful result. Lastly, we thank the National Theatre for allowing our school to be apart of such an incredible experience.

Josiah Gyasi-Sundu Year 11 Student & Expressive Arts Prefect (Drama)