On Thursday of last week, Years 7 and 8 spent the whole day in the hall, participating in a one-day, interactive music and drama workshop. The workshop explored the theme of Ancient Woodland through music and drama, to mark National Poetry Day.
The workshop was led by Karen Gillingham (Director) and Hannah Conway (Music Director/composer), together with a professional opera singer, Rob Gildon. Karen Gillingham is a freelance opera director, facilitator and creative director of Garsington Opera Learning & Participation. Karen launched and was co-artistic director of the Royal Opera House’s Youth Opera Company for nine years. She has worked at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, LSO Barbican, 02, London’s V&A museum and NYU Abu Dhabi.
The children spent the day devising a very powerful piece where they wrote their own music and lines and then put these together in a spellbinding performance for parents.
Mrs Mason said
“I was so very impressed with the focus, concentration and enthusiasm of Years 7 and 8 and they worked so hard throughout the day. The songs they wrote together were mesmerising and they learnt so many different skills. I am very proud of them all and so grateful to Karen and her team for coming in to work with the children.”
If you would like to see more drama, why not come along to the Year 8 production of ‘Private Peaceful’ on December 8th at 7.00pm. This tale of two brothers in World War One is currently in rehearsal and is suitable for children from ten years upwards.
