Named after the dramatist William Congreve, friend of Lord Cobham, the Congreve Society was formed to promote the study, encouragement and practice of drama in all its aspects. There are normally two Congreve productions in a school year: The Senior Congreve by Fifth and Sixth Form, and Junior Congreve by the Third and Fourth Form. In addition to Congreves, the School has also produced House Plays, Lower Sixth Plays, staff plays, classical plays, modern language plays. The "Historian's Shakespeare" (1935-1962), was a forerunner as well as 'rival' to the Congreve Society for some years. Before the opening of the Roxburgh Hall in 1959, Congreve productions took place in the Old Gym. Over the years, there have been Congreves set in other venues: Good Friday (1942) in Chapel, A Midsummer Night's Dream (1964) on the South Front, Othello (1965) in the Marble Hall, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (1971) at the Queen's Temple, and most recently in 2004, No‘l Coward's triple bill of Hands Across the Sea and Shadow Play in the Temple Room and Still Life in the Music Room. As well as acting, students also crew the productions looking after costume, make-up, set design, lighting and sound, and meet regularly with the Theatre Technician as an activity. Master in charge: Mr Nick Bayley
