We’ve come to the end of a brilliant term – it was “The One With Performances” and it hasn’t disappointed. Since October half term, our fantastic students have performed a total of 8 times (that’s more than one performance per week!)

  1. The first years performed their first public show in the Everyman Studio – their variety show Forget Me Not sold out and was a great success.
  2. The second years performed Zero For The Young Dudes by Alistair McDowall twice – once at Chosen Hill School, and again for a sell-out audience in the Everyman Studio.
  3. The second years performed on the Everyman’s main stage as part of 100 Years On – a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice in 1914.
  4. The first years entertained the Everyman Theatre Association at their Christmas dinner with some festive songs.
  5. The second years worked with local playwright Shirley Halse to bring her new play – Millionials to life at the Wilson Art Gallery. At the same time, second year student Joe Stanley gave his own short play a first outing.
  6. The first years sang to entertain the crowds at Winchcombe Christmas Fair.
  • Zero For The Young Dudes
  • Forget Me Not
  • 100 Years On

As well as preparing, rehearsing and performing, we’ve had a huge number of opportunities to work with, and learn from, industry professionals – the reason that Stagedoor really is #betterthancollege

This term, we’ve spent a lot of time with Hammerpuzzle Theatre, who are performing two shows – The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Old Curiosity Shop, in the Everyman Studio this Christmas. It’s unusual to be given access to rehearsals for professional productions, but Hammerpuzzle have allowed our students to watch rehearsals and technical rehearsals for both shows, meaning that we’ve really been able to see the creative process in action. It’s been a real privilege to see the two productions come to life, and to observe professional actors and directors in action. At the end of term, the whole gang watched The Old Curiosity Shop, and it went straight to the top of both League of Productions.

End of Autumn Term – League of Productions – we’ve see a LOT this term!

The second year students have also been making preparations for the next step in their lives, working on UCAS forms and Drama School applications, and we’ve had workshops to help with audition preparation from fantastic practitioners Elise Heaven, Kirstie Davis and Paul Milton. The process culminated in a mock audition afternoon with Hammerpuzzle Theatre’s Bryn Holding and Tamsin Kennard. Bryn and Tamsin gave the second years a full audition experience, complete with focused and personal feedback which will help them to be on top of their game when they go for the real thing in the new year.

Following their variety show and their various Christmas performances the first years have now moved on to work on their play for National Theatre Connections – Chaos by Laura Lomas. It’s a clever and sophisticated piece and we’re looking forward to really getting stuck in after the holidays.

Second years are working on Improvisation, and, in the last week of term, had workshops with professional actors Charlie Ryan, who we saw in last year’s Hammerpuzzle Christmas shows, and Jack James Ryan, who recently performed alongside four of the Stagedoor students in On The Mend. Both workshops were excellent, and we are very lucky to be able to learn from such a wide variety of talented professionals. I’m constantly overwhelmed by the generosity of the people we meet through our partnership with the Everyman!

It’s been a bumper term, and an amazing start to the academic year. Our students are off now for a very well-deserved rest! We’ll be back in the New Year for an exciting, creative and busy 2019!