Drama
This is without doubt the best start to their education we could have wished for.
Linda Grierson
At Barnard Castle School we have the best performance-space in the town of Barnard Castle, one that is attractive to visiting professional companies as well as ideal for internal use. We also have a dedicated drama studio, ideal for rehearsal and more intimate theatre. In recent years several pupils have gone on to perform professionally, and to take courses at leading drama colleges.
Competition for roles, and acting and technical skill-levels have been advancing fast. We stage a minimum of three, but usually four productions a year: a straight play in the Autumn Term, a Musical in the Spring Term and a Prep School and Junior Play in the Summer Term. A Junior Musical has also been included in the repertoire.
Now that we offer Drama and Theatre Studies at Alevel these are enhanced by Examiner-assessed performances to which audiences are invited.
So there is a lot of Drama going on and we pride ourselves on the level of professionalism we are able to integrate, with, for example, ex-professional dancers choreographing and training our dancers in our musicals. We have contacts with the professional company Jack Drum Arts and the locally-based Castle Players. Kevin Whately and Glenn Hugill are two old boys who became household names.
Recent play productions include "My Mother Said I Never Should", "Stepping Out", "The Fwog Pwince" and "Blood Brothers". We are lucky that professional actors give workshops to our pupils, for example an actor from the touring production of "Blood Brothers" working with our Sixth Form.
Recent musicals include "We Will Rock You", "Copacabana", "The Boyfriend" and "Carousel".
Outside of School Year 7 to year 9 actors have gone to Richmond, the Georgian Theatre, for a workshop on “The Merchant of Venice” conducted by two members of the National Youth Theatre.
Our own tailor-made drama studio is one of the busiest spaces in the school, and the enthusiasm of pupils and staff means that this aspect of school life will only grow and grow.
