Drama: Drama

 

Sprite Experiment - click to enlarge

There are a wide range of Drama activities outside the examination curriculum. These provide an opportunity for girls to discover and develop not only their acting abilities but also a wide range of production and backstage skills.

Wycombe Abbey Seniors who have gone on to make a career in film and on the stage include Eve Best, Rachel Stirling, Naomi Frederick, Miriam Heard, Sally Phillips and many others.

UIII

Parents are invited to see a performance at the end of the Christmas term which showcases the work done in Speech and Drama classes.  It is a most enjoyable occasion for all concerned.

LIV

At the beginning of the new academic year as part of Activities Weekend, all the LIVs assemble at 9am one Friday morning and present a dance and music production to their parents at 4pm the next day!  Much fun is had by all.

UIV

The first major school production involves the entire year group and is performed at the end of the Spring term.  New girls quickly feel a sense of belonging as every member of the year chooses to act, dance, play their instrument, sing, make costumes or join the technical team.  The end result is eagerly anticipated and is performed on three nights; an extra exeat is one of the rewards for all the hard work.

LV

Amidst a wealth of highly innovative advertising, the hugely popular LV Play Competition sees house groups pulling together to produce a half hour play, performed at the end of the Summer term in a three night festival of theatre.  A tradition has grown up in recent years which allows for rather tempting bribes to be offered to the judge at the beginning of each performance!  It’s a most enjoyable end to the Summer term.

UV

The UV work towards a devised performance

LVI

The LVI year gives the chance for students to further flex their theatrical muscles and to be involved with directing a full scale production of their own which has always attracted a large number of girls (some new to the sixth form).  Innovation and experiment have been hallmarks of the LVI play.

UVI

The jewel in the crown is the Clarence Play directed by the Head of Drama and shown to parents in February.  Girls involved may well have done GCSE, AS and A2 and have their LAMDA Gold Medal, so the standard is generally very high.

A steady stream of girls have successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre in recent years, approximately one a year goes into the profession in some capacity, and a few go on to read Drama at University.