The Literary Society
All A-Level English Literature students at Stowe are members of the Literary Society. Two or three times a term, distinguished guest-speakers offer a paper to the Society. Members may be invited to dine with the guest subsequent to the talk. Recent guests have included Sir Peter Hall (founder of the RSC) talking about the language of theatre, Professor Jonathan Bate (Warwick University) discussing aspects of Shakespeare, Professor Malcolm Parkes (Oxford University) offering a paper on Chaucerian manuscripts and Professor Vincent Gillespie (Oxford University) providing perspectives on the plays of Harold Pinter.
The Literary Society also stages annual events such as the Creative Writing Forum recitations (a showcase for Stowe's young poets and short-story writers), celebrations for Shakespeare's birthday and, at the end of the academic year, a leavers' dinner spiced with music, song and drama.
Stowe is well placed for theatres in Stratford, Oxford, Northampton, London, Birmingham and Milton Keynes. Theatre trips (and occasional excursions to galleries or museums) are included in Literary Society schedules.
Master in charge: Dr Paul Miller