Extra Curricular Drama
Extracurricular activities are a very important part of the Drama Department's work in Stanwell with clubs and performance projects operating for all pupils.
The Key Stage 3 clubs are always packed, often requiring more than one teacher to run them. During the end of every Summer term, the department audition Year 7 pupils to take part in a Theatre In Education tour of local primary schools, as part of the transition between primary and secondary. Previous productions include ‘Skellig' and ‘Treasure Island'.
Production work at Stanwell is a major aspect of the department's activities and the standard achieved is impressive. The list of recent musicals and straight pieces presented by the Department is varied with "Les Miserables" being a particular success. This venture was a joint project with the Music Department and Design Technology and was performed as part of the inaugural International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff . The experience of "Les Miserables" was a tremendous one for all involved and proved to be an excellent showcase for our very talented performing arts students.
We have recently finished performing ‘Success' by Nick Drake. This project was part of the prestigious National Theatre's ‘New Connections' scheme and the cast were invited to perform at the Wales Millennium Centre's Weston Studio, as part of the New Connections theatre festival. It was a senior production and included mainly pupils from years 10 to 13. This year, a 75 strong cast will be performing ‘Crazy For You', with a full orchestra made up of Stanwell's music students and the set constructed by the D&T and Art departments. Other recent productions include : ‘We Will Rock You', ‘Little Shop of Horrors' and ‘Jekyll and Hyde'.
There is also a Key Stage Three musical production that all Year 8 pupils are involved in during the Summer term. This is a fully staged show and recent productions have included ‘The Fame Game' and ‘Alice in Wonderland'.
