A Level Drama

31 March 2017

Upper Sixth Theatre Studies pupils thrilled their audience when performing scripted extracts and devised pieces in the Dobinson Studio on Wednesday 22 March.

Scripted pieces were from a diverse range of dramatic genres including Comedy of Manners, American realism, Theatre of the Absurd and the work of playwrights as diverse as Mark Ravenhill, Henrik Ibsen and Alan Ayckbourn. Their performances conveyed great textual understanding and engaged the audience through characterisation and believable relationships. We were treated to sensitivity, comedy and tragedy in equal measure.

The performances of the devised pieces formed the second part of the day. Issy Avery (Lyttelton), Flo Berner (Lyttelton) and Tom Brooke (Temple) worked in a verbatim/physical theatre style to explore the fallout and consequences of the Paris Nightclub attacks of 13 November 2015. Staged in-the-round, the piece was a poignant reminder of the troubled world we live in. Thalia Felton (Queen’s), Fabian Bevan (Grafton), Starzie Grafftey-Smith (Queen’s) and Tom Cowley (Bruce) performed a thoughtful, reflective and at times comic look at
the ever changing and complex issue surrounding relationships. Influenced by Frantic Assembly, DV8 and Berkoff, they presented a sophisticated piece. Charles Granby (Grafton), India Spencer (Queen’s), Savanna Ellott (Stanhope) and Carlie Tufnell (Temple) assaulted the senses with a graphic, comic book style piece about neighbours. Sound designer, Jack Dickerson (Cobham) provided a complex and effective underscore. Eliza Dubois (Nugent), Florence Fox (Stanhope), Lucy Alderton (Stanhope) and Bella Mullarkey (Stanhope) presented a piece tackling abuse, drawing on real life testimonies, the group created an intricate and highly engaging political piece. Sabrina Iskander (West), Bella Coldstream (Lyttelton) and Amy Struthers (Lyttelton) performed a naturalistic piece set in a secure hospital, where the characters were not what they seemed at first.

The Stoics showed an admirable professionalism, supporting each other throughout the day. It was wonderful to see so many Housemasters, parents, Tutors and pupils in the audience.

Rebecca Clark, Director of Drama