We’ve had a very busy drama term at Heritage, with two fantastic performances, 27 pupils completing their LAMDA exams—where the results so far have been excellent—and success in the ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition.
ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition
Earlier this year, some keen drama students from years 6-11 entered a delightful array of speeches to the ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition. There was an impressive mix from comedies, tragedies and histories, including Othello, Macbeth, As You Like It, Coriolanus and Titus Andronicus. Some speeches were taken from the text and some were original—inspired by Shakespearean characters and written by the students. Judges chose finalists out of hundreds of entrants for three age groups—and three Heritage pupils have made it to the final! Happily, we have a finalist in each age category. William (Year 6) has been chosen for his speech as Romeo, Hanna (Year 8) will be performing as Miranda and Eva (Year 11) was chosen for a sparkling original monologue as Olivia from Twelfth Night. Well done to all three and we wish them all the best for the final on the 22nd April!
Year 6 Performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Written by Izzy and Kitty – our Year 10 Drama Leaders)
“The show must go on… and it did!”
On Thursday the 19th of March, despite the excitement, nerves and an unexpected set malfunction, year 6 performed a captivating and memorable performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The play follows the collision of three worlds in a forest one night. The Mechanicals, who delivered their lines confidently, with perfect comedic timing. The fairies, who captured the audience with their mischievous and magical presence, and finally the grounded nobility of Hippolyta and Theseus contrasted with the ferocity and chaos of the lovers.
What stood out the most was the commitment and teamwork involved in staging the play, which was organised and pulled together by Mrs Watkins. Miss Woodroffe also deserves a special thanks for helping with the lighting, and making sure the night ran smoothly. The level of preparation from both the pupils and the teachers was especially noticeable through the professional and calm way in which they handled the sudden falling of a tree from the set.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to speak with some of the performers before the play. The year 6 class deserved every bit of applause they received, and we are looking forward to their future productions.
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Year 7 Performance of Julius Caesar
As the Ides of March approached Year 7 put on a suitably thrilling performance of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. At times chilling, at times startling, at times full of pathos these young actors perfectly captured the changing mood of the text and the dark undercurrents at play in the last days of the Roman Republic.
Opening with an atmospheric rap, the Year 7s went on to showcase some very impressive dramatic skills as they portrayed the main players in the events of 44 BC. We were given an imperious Julius Caesar, a cooly confident Cassius, a barbarously blood-thirsty Casca and a commanding Octavius, as well as a brilliant array of crafty and cunning conspirators and some powerful performances from the people of Rome. The terrible dilemma of Brutus, deciding whether or not to join the conspiracy and kill his friend for the sake of his country, shone out as did his scenes with his passionate wife Portia. We were also treated to a particularly rousing rendering of Mark Antony’s famous speech to the crowd!
With some striking solos which held the audience spellbound and some stirring songs from the whole cast too the play swept along and was a delight to watch. What a timely reminder this play gives of the power of rhetoric and persuasion and the need to be able to weigh words well. A huge congratulations to Year 7 for a truly remarkable performance!
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