Of course, Miss Kovacevic and I see this thirst in our lessons every day, and the incredible number of students taking LAMDA lessons further supports this notion. Pop into any Drama lesson and you will see students keen to develop their performance skills, eager to use their imagination, and desperate to share and discuss their creative ideas.

However, there is always something extra special about seeing age-diverse work in action: where the decision to mix with and learn from others is out of choice; where learning and growth are disguised as fun; and, above all, where students feel safe and encouraged to build friendships as well as engaging theatre. The Winter Showcase in December, which involved over 100 students from across the school, was a shining example of this. As preparations continue for our much-anticipated whole school musical (being announced this week after an agonising teaser campaign!) I fully expect this to be another powerful example of how important it is to have inclusive and creative spaces where our pupils can thrive artistically, academically and socially.

As educators, it is part of our job to establish these environments: where students feel empowered to take creative risks and to push themselves to make interesting and engaging choices, by using their instinct and curiosity. Since arriving in September, I have seen countless examples of this throughout the school. In Drama alone, it has been evident in exam pieces, Physical Theatre Club, Drama Scholarship assessments, theatre visits inspiring classroom work, Drama Club and the Winter Showcase. To the untrained eye, a Drama lesson may seem like (organised) chaos, noise, and play, but we see exploration, truth and learning about ‘the real you’. What better place to try out different versions of yourself than in the safety of a drama studio?

Whilst writing this update I was reminded of an excellent TED talk by Paul Falkowski; The Unexpected Promise of a Drama Classroom, which is well worth 17 minutes of your time.

So, with the Oscars this week, World Theatre Day next Friday, and the magic of musicals in the air at LGS, perhaps it is an opportunity to indulge in a little extra creativity. After all, Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, while imagination encircles the world.” I just might have to agree.

Thank you Mrs JD. There is no doubt that Drama is a truly special subject, one which allows self-exploration and cross Year group teamwork in a remarkable way. And of course, it sits perfectly alongside Music, which has also been very busy this week. In particular, I hugely enjoyed our First Orchestra and Choral concert last night. It was wonderful to see the stage filled with performers, with more than 200 people performing in beautiful synchrony, across a wide range of ages, at some points. We had a packed audience, so I am glad that so many parents and relations were able to enjoy it too.

With best wishes,
Magnus Anderson
Headmaster