Largest audience ever for Primary Showcases
All 104 Phoenix primary drama students recently performed in the annual drama showcases 2012 (24th & 25th March) in the Studio Theatre at The Harlow Playhouse.
For the first time there were four performances playing to a combined audience of 500 enthusiastic parents and family members. In total we were treated to 13 separate pieces with an amazing mix of intriguing stories. These included a visiting alien from planet Zion, the history of working children, the tale of how Amazonian birds came to obtain their colours and many more. Highlights included the year 1 and 2 Harlow class’ tale of the Boy who Cried Wolf and the theatrical presentation of The Great Snakeskin, a piece created by the year 4-6 students from our new Bishop’s Stortford primary classes.
Each show finished with a finale devised by the students themselves in which they expressed what being a Phoenix student means to them and why they love our school. It was a fantastic conclusion, to a fantastic show. The children will be performing their pieces again for this year’s group LAMDA examinations in May and will have the opportunity to receive external accreditation for their efforts. We are sure they will do well and prove to be a credit to Sophie Barker and Faye Linden our Primary Drama tutors who have been ably assisted this term by Amy Moulder and Connor Linden.
Both shows were filmed and photographed and DVD copies will be available soon. A selection of the pictures taken can be seen on our Facebook page. The other 1400 or so will be available on a disk along with any DVD order.
Senior & Intermediate Students perform in Playhouse Studio Theatre
Approximately 100 Phoenix drama students appeared in the Studio Theatre of Harlow Playhouse last weekend (16th & 17th March) to showcase their work to packed audiences of friends and family. For the first time the Senior and Intermediate classes were split and Senior Students (Year 10+) performed on Friday evening whilst Intermediate Students (Year 7 to 9) performed twice on Saturday. This was due to the increased number of students in the Intermediate age range following the opening of our Bishops Stortford classes.
The presentations included a mix of devised and scripted work, much of which will be honed over the coming weeks before students enter group LAMDA exams towards the end of May. On Friday the first Year 10+ class presented scenes from the Willy Russell play Stags and Hens whilst the second Year 10+ class presented 3 short devised pieces including a twist on the recent story of the Dale Farm evicitions (pictured right).
On the Saturday evening it was the turn of the Intermediate classes (Year 7 to 9) The first Harlow class preseted prose work consisting of an excerpt from The Woman in Black as well as a version of the Pied Piper. The remaining 2 classes presented an eclectic mix of devised work ranging from the story of a tragic incident revisited (pictured left) to a cautionary tale about a young girl who was spoilt. DVD’s of the presentations wil be available shortly and pictures can be found on our Facebook page of both the Senior and Intermediate presentations.
Audience Delighted by Students Showcase Effort
Students from Phoenix Musical Theatre and Dance classes delighted a total audience of over 500 people when they performed recently on the main stage at Harlow Playhouse. The 2 hour show featured performances from every Phoenix student and included both group presentations and solo performances. The evening got underway with a performance of songs and scenes from the musical Our House, presented by the Year 7 to 9 Musical Theatre class. Later in the first half the Year 5 & 6 students presented excerpts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 3 oompa loompa’s proved to be a big hit. Many people’s favourite Musical Theatre performance was the 24 year 1 to 4 students who presented a fantastic rendition of 2 songs from Annie with linking scenes and held the stage effortlessly despite having an average age of just 7. Special mention must go to Sarinna Proudfoot-Mathurin who took the part of Annie (pictured). The Musical Theatre performances were rounded off with a selection of songs from Westside Story by the year 10+ class, showing the range and versatility of not just the students but also Musical Theatre Tutor Debbie Hannam.
Dance Tutor Katie Barker-Dale showed how far our relatively new dance classes have progressed with 2 medleys that involved all students, the first being a 9 minute tribute to Michael Jackson that left the audience both amazed and delighted. Other additions to the evening included solo performances from year 10+ student Grace Wheeler and recent Jack Petchey Achievement Award winner Alysha Hutchings, who sang a version of Hallelujah. Year 10+ student and Primary Drama assistant tutor Amy Moulder took the role of Nancy to sing ‘I’d Do Anything’ with Will Edden, currently Dodger in the National Tour of Oliver! Jake Poolman, who also appears in the National tour of Oliver sang ‘Where is Love’ from the same show. There were also 4 performances of Music and Dance from our special guests Burnt Mill Academy.
The evening finished with a rendition of the Queen Hit ‘The Shiow Must Go On’ sung by Year 10+ students Grace Wheeler, Amy Moulder and Connor Linden, before Grace went on to lead all 124 performers in a version of ‘Carnival’ from Fame (pictured). A DVD of the show case will be available soon and a full set of pictures can be viewed at our Facebook page.
Dates and Times for all Performances Now Available
The Dates and Times for all the forthcoming Phoenix Showcases at The Playhouse in Harlow have now been confirmed. You can download full information about when each Phoenix student will be performing and what time they will be required to rehearse.
The opening of our 3 new Phoenix drama classes at Rhodes in Bishops Stortford and their subsequent immediete success leading to a sharp increase in the number of Phoenix students has meant we had to rearrange details slightly.
Full information is now available as follows:
Musical Theatre and Dance Showcase, Sunday 11th & Monday 12th March
The Musical Theatre & Dance Showcase takes place on the main stage of the Playhouse in Harlow on the above dates. Full details about show times and rehaersal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. All students are appearing in both shows.
Download Musical Theatre & Dance Showcase 2012 Details
Senior & Intermediate Drama, Friday 16th & Saturday 17th March
The Senior and Intermediate Drama Showcase for both the Harlow and Bishops Stortford classes takes place on the above dates in the Studio Theatre of the Playhouse in Harlow. Full details about show times and rehearsal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. Tickets can be booked online here. Please ensure that you book for the correct show as Year 10+ and Year’s 7 to 9 perform on different nights. Each student will perform just once.
Download Senior & Intermediate Drama Showcase 2012 Details
Primary Drama Showcase, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th March
The Primary Drama Showcase for both the Harlow and Bishops Stortford classes takes place on the above dates in the Studio Theatre of the Playhouse in Harlow. Full details about show times and rehearsal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. Tickets can be booked online here. Please ensure that you book for the correct show as Different classes perform at different times. We have added a fourth show and now each student will perform twice.
Download Primary Drama Showcase 2012 Details
Tickets for all performances can be booked online here