Drama

PERFORMING ARTS OUTSIDE THE TIMETABLE

"To grasp the full significance of life is the actor's duty, to interpret it is his problem, and to express it is his dedication" James Dean

There are two big-scale production productions in the school year; a main school play/musical (Yrs 10 -13) at the end of the Autumn term and a 'middle school' play (catering for years 7 - 9) at the end of the Summer term.

There are also numerous other opportunities for students to perform: mini-tours are mounted to local primary schools and the calendar is full of lunchtime performances such as ‘Monty Python Lunchtime' and ‘Horrible Histories' which toured to primary schools. Drama, music and dance is often used in assemblies.

"Acting is about giving something away, handing yourself over to the role you're playing" Alan Rickman

Queen's prides itself in achieving a production quality which is far above that which is normally associated with the ‘school play'. All the production staff have had experience of professional theatre and we very often draft in professional dancers, folk musicians, designers and technicians who are shadowed by the students.

Queen's also has a unique relationship with Somerset College who run one of the few Film and TV make-up courses in the country. Productions benefit from superbly researched period detail and expert application of make-up and wigs. Queen's Students are encouraged to work alongside the make-up students and lecturers.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Technical Theatre

A popular ‘Crew Club' is well attended on Wednesdays. Students keen on the technical aspects of theatre are encouraged to get involved in programming lighting boards or creating recorded ‘soundscapes'.

In the 6th form Queen's runs a special course for those students who are thinking about technical careers in theatre or TV.

"Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value." Sir Ken Robinson

Recent productions have included:

The Borrowers 2005

A Midsummer Night's Dream 2005

Animal Farm 2006

The Comedy of Errors 2006

Wind in The Willows 2007

Oh What a Lovely War 2007

Pirates of Penzance 2008

The Kissing Dance 2008

Great Expectations 2009

Macbeth 2009

Bugsy Malone 2010

Storm Boy 2010