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Posted on March 23rd 2022
Live Drama is Back at HGAED - Find Out About Drama Opportunities
"Please turn off your mobile phone." My greatest joy is to hear the phrase in the context of theatre. The last two years have been challenging for all industries but for the performing arts it has been numbing.
I cast my mind back to 2020 theatre trips where students saw 1927's The Animals and Children Took to the Streets, Blood Wedding and the popular Everybody's Talking About Jamie. I could never have imagined that seeing a show would become a scarce luxury.
Wuthering Heights
On Wednesday 23rd January 2022, the current Year 11 Drama students joined hundreds of others in the National Theatre's Lyttleton auditorium to see a rambunctious adaptation of Wuthering Heights.
This production from The Wise Children theatre company left quite an impression on the girls. Song, live music and soundscapes, puppets, projections, imaginative movement and costumes created a feast for the eyes and ears.
For one hundred minutes, the students were gripped. This was evidenced by the copious notes they made during the interval. The second half, although shorter was no less intense, leaving the students breathless. This version really is an energetic journey for actors and audience alike.
Opportunities with the Young Vic
Opportunity has knocked on the Drama Studio door once more, and negotiations are afoot with The Young Vic to create a programme of events for a chosen group of students. The Young Vic and HGAED are old friends and we try to work together either through workshops or theatre visits. I was fortunate enough to be offered tickets to Cush Jumbo's Hamlet. A tour de force if ever there was.
Across The Cut at the Old Vic, tickets were offered to sixth form students to see the brilliant and disturbing Camp Sigfreid. I saw this in the summer when seats were still socially distanced. Despite the smaller audience, the performances in this duologue were still extremely affecting.
More drama opportunities at HGAED
The Donmar Warehouse has approached the Drama department to help devise a new play about climate change. This is an exciting opportunity for our girls to be involved in the development and possibly performance of an important piece of theatre.
For all students, workshops are available through The Blue Elephant theatre in Camberwell. The new term has begun with free sessions running on Saturdays.
For yourselves and your families, do consider the local options at the Young Vic and Old Vic. Sign up to hear about participation as well as discounted seats. In a similar vein, there are opportunities to see West End shows during the summer through The Mousetrap Theatre Projects.
At school, the Drama studio has been a hub for rehearsals and costumes as the Year 11 students prepare for their Component Two performance exam on March 30th. There are monologues and duologues, modern and classics. The showcase promises to be an interesting mélange of styles and themes. This year there will not be an external examiner, so I am hoping the nerves will be kept at bay and our girls can give their best performances.
The Key Stage Three Drama Club continues to meet every Monday, with numbers growing after their performance of The Riot Club at Christmas. We wait with bated breath for their next show at Easter.
I believe it is fair to say that theatre, culture; all that makes us empathetic humans, is back!
Do you work in theatre?
I am always keen to hear from theatre professionals, especially those who work in stage management and tech. This is an area for development at HGAED, so if you have both expertise and a little time to donate, my girls and I would be truly grateful.
Heather Osborne-Beder
Drama Lead
