Being Dramatic at Farleigh

The Farleigh Theatre is currently set up as a Geography classroom, the stage filled with unused, dusty set from our cancelled Mary Poppins musical and the Drama Studio stands empty, but Drama at Farleigh lives on! Our pupils have engaged brilliantly with the arts from home and we are relishing the opportunity to explore projects we wouldn't usually do during non-Covid times. 

Each week begins with the Years 3 & 4 Theatre Craft Club, the most popular Drama session of the week. Pupils have studied stage makeup from The Lion King musical, created their own designs, followed a makeup tutorial to practise applying face paint and have transferred their own designs from page to face. Their engagement has been fantastic and it has been especially nice to see older siblings helping out, as well as younger siblings acting as guinea pigs! Next up... The Addams Family Musical

On Tuesdays, Years 7 & 8 pupils meet to collaborate on a post-apocalyptic, dystopian-themed project. They are currently in the process of working together to write the script, which looks set to be the next Hunger Games or Maze Runner franchise! A key element of their chosen plot is that each tribe can be identified by their distinctive face tattoos (washable, we promise!). Therefore, pupils are looking forward to taking part in their own stage makeup tutorials. The project will conclude with pupils performing their lines to camera, in stage makeup, so that their work can be edited together into a short film. 

Our potential drama scholars in Years 6-8 have also been working hard to develop their skills from home. The Year 8 pupils have been preparing for their online scholarship auditions, attending rehearsals, group discussions, theory sessions and interview practice. Hot on their heels are pupils from Years 6 and 7, who have been rehearsing a potential drama scholar play that will be live-streamed once pupils return to school. Recently, they attended a group discussion, analysing the National Theatre's production of War Horse, having watched it via the National Theatre at Home streaming platform. Their analysis was extremely reflective and we loved listening to their thoughts on the show. 

In collaboration with the Music, Art and DT Departments, pupils have taken brilliantly to learning choreography for the whole school, remote production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Although not strictly Drama, as there is no spoken dialogue in the musical, pupils have certainly put their acting skills to use whilst performing their dance routines. Jazz hands and cheesy smiles all-round... as well as a bit of calypso hip movements! Now that the dance routines have been taught, these sessions have switched to Zoom Drama lessons for those who would like to take part. 

Joseph choreography isn't the only dancing taking place during lockdown. Our Thursday Contemporary Dance Club is challenging pupils to explore movement and learn more complicated routines, choregraphed by local teenagers who have been taught by Mr Hession over the past six years at The Lights Theatre. Mrs Bedwell's son, Thomas, is one of those choreographers, who, despite being officially too young to audition for a place, is part of The Point Dance training scheme and ORB Male Dance Company. He and the other choreographers are enjoying sharing their skills with Farleigh pupils. 

Throughout the week, LAMDA lessons are taught online and pupils across the school continue to develop their performance skills. Optional Drama lessons for Years 3-5 on Moodle have also been a hit with some pupils and we have enjoyed grading their submissions. 

Whilst we are all looking forward to drawing back the Theatre curtains (Joseph pun most definitely intended) and performing live again, we are encouraged by the children's eagerness to participate in the arts from home. Farleigh pupils are certainly a creative  and enthusiastic bunch! 


Tuesday Drama Club Year 8 potential drama scholars working together on Zoom Year 6 analyse The National Theatre's production of War Horse In the absence of Year 8, a key worker's child acts as a body double for some missing film shots in The Battle of Boat More 'body double' work from Wilf Fantastic Years 3 & 4 Lion King stage makeup designs Time to start work on my own face! Calming green juxtaposed with strong pink and a pale face - what an effect! Fabulous opera mask created by Gilby We like a fruity little number! Eva's spectacular Lion King stage make-up design Year 7 rehearsal Four cats on the prowl from Gilby Belle's striking design Careful make-up application! Bold, geometric neons from Clemmie Tommy the tIger! A heavy eyebrow always creates drama! Bold splashes of colour from Willa Issy conveys her serious side