The Drama Department at SWPS has had an eventful and successful Summer Term, filled with impressive performances and exciting events.
The ‘Night at The West End’ Lower School Production was one of the highlights of the term, showcasing the talent of our Year 7-9 students as they performed a selection of London’s West End shows. From dramatic scenes to show-stopping songs and brilliant choreography, the audience was treated to scenes which were carefully chosen to include both contemporary and classic productions, narrated by the talented Gavroche from Les Miserables. Directed and produced by Miss Whitfield and Ms White respectively, the 80-strong cast poured their hearts and souls into bringing the scripts to life. Thanks to the choreography expertise of Ms Fallea, an extra layer of brilliance shone through the dance numbers. Diana Louise-Towe who holds the prestigious title of being the first female adult soloist to win Gold for Great Britain at the World Tap Championships, was kind enough to choreograph a tap routine. The performances, held over two nights, created a vibrant atmosphere within our school community and beyond. We were especially thrilled to share the show with Upton House, one of our feeder schools. All credit to everyone involved in making this production such a success.
Hello there! I’m Gavroche, here to jaw with you all about ‘a night at the west end’ – a fabulous production if you ask me! First, let’s chat about the grand chaps behind the curtain, our brilliant tech team! They’ve been proper ace in, well, everything! From the moment we fist tried out our mics, (which was the first time for many, me included!) they were nothing but brill every time we strolled our way backstage, not to mention our cracking dance breaks during the scenes!
All that being said, you can’t ignore the performers themselves! I was absolutely chuffed I got to work with all the cracking actors I did, especially when I really got to see them in their element; The stage of course! It was an absolute wicked time working, rehearsing and just being with all the talent there was in that room every day; it’s truly something even I can’t forget. Sure we of course had our fair share of stresses and troubles, but every one of them worked out brilliantly in the ‘west end’!
Sincerely, Gavroche
Caitlin Year 7
Another noteworthy event was the Junior Drama Scriptwriting Day, and this year’s theme brought together students in Year 12 to write and direct performances for their respective houses. The tradition, which has been celebrated at SWPS for over forty years, provides a platform for Year 8 students to step onto the stage for the first time, an experience that is both memorable and valuable. Rehearsals for these performances will commence in September, with the final performances being showcased to parents and esteemed guest judges, in the Autumn term.
We also welcome Cormac Hyde-Corrin – renowned for his performance in the acclaimed ‘Heartstopper’ series – to SWPS to engage with our Drama scholars and LAMDA students. Cormac discussed his personal experience of breaking into the acting industry, and the audition process involved for the part of Harry Greene in the Netflix adaptation.
