SENIOR DRAMA
Drama is for everyone at Derby High
Each year we stage two major productions; one in the Autumn Term and one in the Spring Term. We also hold an annual House Drama Competition.
Many of our students are involved in our drama productions, not just on stage but in the many other support roles such as lighting, sound, costumes or backstage. Â We have invested significantly in our stage lighting and sound facilities enabling our students to work with up to date, professional equipment.
Drama at Derby High is for everyone. Â Some of our youngest pupils take on leading roles in our major productions promoting confidence at a relatively early age.
Students across Derby High’s Senior School took to the stage for a stunning performance of Alice in Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole on Friday 7th October 2022. It was wonderful to have a full Senior Hall for the performance of the Lower School play. Mrs Chapmam congratulated the cast and crew. Everyone in the audience was impressed by the quality of performance and recognised the huge efforts of all involved, both on and off the stage.
Thank you to our Drama Prefect, Charlotte, along with the other Sixth Form and Year 11 students who worked incredibly hard to ensure the show was a great success.
On the 28th November 2022, our Senior Hall was filled with laughter and the audience captivated by our House Drama competition. The chosen play was Arabian Nights by Dominic Cooke. The 2009 play text was used for the competition and divided into four sections for each house to perform.
The four House Captains did a fantastic job, each producing their section to a very high standard. Each team showed a real dedication in rehearsals and throughout their performance.Â
The House Drama overall winner was St. Patrick and the Hopkins Cup for Best Personal Performance in a House Play web to Saffron in Year 12.Â
The People’s Choice Winner was St. Patrick.
on 17th March, 2022, a team of fifty students put on ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, our first show since the covid pandemic hit the world.
Many students worked enthusiastically behind the scenes on prop making, make-up, costume making, sound and lighting to bring Wilde’s world to life. The backstage crew worked as a well-oiled machine to ensure smooth scene changes.
Everyone was thrilled to tread the boards again. The cast rehearsed for many months to learn the complex and finely balanced lines, working hard to perfect comic timing and master the art of eating muffins whilst talking. Eli M took on the task of co-director with skill and gusto.
Esther and Bethan accompanied the play with a lively piano duet; Olivia and Ruby treated us to the beautiful song, ‘O Peaceful England’, by Edward German; the string quartet played Haydn’s elegant ‘Quartet in G Minor’; the choir ended the evening with Elgar’s joyful ‘Fly, Singing Bird’.
Special thanks to Mrs Webster, Mrs Maddox, Mrs Martin-Smith, Mrs Lesley, Mr Marshall, Mrs Davies, Mrs Taulbut, Mrs Roe, Chaplain Jo, Mr Hibbert and our caretakers, Mr Eley and Mr Taylor.
