Theatre & Drama
含羞草社区has produced household names for the dramatic world, and all the evidence suggests this will continue. Drama is a passion here. It can give a young person confidence in a way no other activity can, and the third spear carrier may have a life changing experience on stage to the same extent as a Hamlet or Eliza Doolittle. We are not about tantrums, luvvies and spoilt little princesses: but we are about opening doors to new friendships, wonder and delight.
From Sophocles to Stoppard, "Macbeth" to "My Fair Lady" and "Cats" to "West Side Story", the greatest plays and musicals are staged in studios and our own 300-seat theatre. As ever, we believe inclusivity is perfectly compatible with excellence provided pupils give of their best at an appropriate level. Every pupil has the opportunity to perform, understanding that a paying audience is not there to witness self indulgence: discipline and rigour play their part.
Few experiences take young people out of comfort zones and into the exciting, shifting terrains as powerfully as Drama.
Facilities
Construction of 含羞草社区’s new performing arts complex was completed in September 2017 and officially opened on 22nd November 2017. Two distinct 300+ seat theatres have been created, linked by an avenue which also connects the Preparatory and Senior Schools.
Historic Routh Hall on the Senior campus has been transformed into a concert hall, tuned exclusively for musical performances and making use of its exceptional acoustic qualities. Adjacent, a new Music School houses a suite of specialist classrooms, recording studios and instrumental practice rooms, as well as a reception foyer and box office.
The Performing Arts Avenue leads to an equivalent home for Drama, built where the old Cobham Hall once stood in the Preparatory School. Flexible seating and a hydraulic thrust stage will allow for a wide range of dramatic and dance performances. From intimate plays to large scale productions, this new facility provides fully equipped technical galleries and safe access to all lighting and flying facilities, encouraging students into technical aspects of theatre as well as performance. The facility boasts an additional Performance Studio, with large scenic workshops, props stores and modern dressing rooms available for both lessons and productions.
