Hampton School
HMC Independent School for boys, founded 1557
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Hampton School
Hampton offers a huge range of performance opportunities involving academic and extra curricular performances. There is a strong emphasis placed on live performance as this forms a large element of the GCSE and A Level courses.
Academic Performances
In the second year, all students perform to family and friends for one night of the year. This is a joint project with the Music department and provides opportunities for boys to demonstrate their musical and performance skills.
Past Productions over the past five years include;
In the third year, boys taking Drama as an option devise their own plays which are performed on one evening to family and friends. The performances allow boys to demonstrate their knowledge of theatrical techniques and genres acquired during the ‘devising theatre’ unit.
During the GCSE course, boys have four performances which take place during evenings. Two performances are interpretations of plays which have been explored during class-time and one performance is a devised piece created from a thematic exploration of football hooliganism. The final performance is an assessed performance (Unit 3) which is performed to a visiting examiner as well as family and friends.
Past Productions over the past five years include;
Photo slide show to follow
During the sixth form, students perform a minimum of three times. During the second term of the AS year, students perform a monologue or duologue to a visiting examiner (this accounts for 30% of their AS grade). During the third term, students will perform an edited full length play to a visiting examiner and family and friends (this also forms 30% of their AS grade). During the A2 year, students devise an original performance in response to stimulus set by the centre. The play is performed before the end of the Autumn term to family and friends (this unit is worth 40% of the A2 year).
Past productions include;
Details of the current academic productions can be found on the intranet site.
Extra Curricular Productions
Junior Drama Productions; The Junior Drama club performs twice a year (the end of the Autumn and Summer Term). Performances are rehearsed during lunchtimes and give the opportunity for students to be involved in acting or technical roles. In the past, students have used the club as a way to showcase their scripting skills, writing and directing their own plays.
Past Productions over the past five years include;
Shakespeare Schools Festival; Hampton takes part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, an initiative by the National Youth Theatre (CHECK) for schools to increase performance opportunities of abridged Shakespeare plays. Students audition for a part in the play selected by staff and then rehearse during lunch times and occasionally after school preparing for a public performance of their chosen play. Details on auditions and casting are announced in School assemblies. Not only do the cast get to perform in a professional venue, but they also partake in a workshop led by the National Youth Theatre. The current production is The Merchant of Venice being directed by a member of the sixth form; this will be performed in November.
Past shows include;
National Student Drama Festival; Hampton regularly submits shows to the NSDF festival. These productions are student led and usually consist of sixth formers. Hampton has been successful in its entries, with productions often being short listed.
Musicals; A musical is performed as a joint production with LEH every year. These are extremely popular productions and competition for principle roles is strong; all year groups are encouraged to audition. Information on auditions is announced in assembly ‘notices’. The acting is directed by Mr Franzkowiak, music by Mr Donald and choreography by Miss Buse and Miss Goddard. This year’s musical is Oklahoma! and will be the first musical performed in the 450 Hall.
Previous musicals include;
Photo slide show to follow
Straight plays and comedies;
There are other productions which take place throughout the year. These provide the opportunity for students who are not confident with singing and dancing to be involved in public performances! Students are also able to direct and produce their own plays.
Edinburgh Fringe; The ‘Artfelt Theatre Company’ was founded in 2007 by Mr M.Franzkowiak. This company was created to give students to opportunity to showcase new writing and take productions to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since the company began, they have performed The Dating Game and Sweeny Todd, the Daemon Barber at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Productions taken to the Edinburgh Fringe before the founding of Artfelt include the following; State (1998), Baa Baa Boys (1999), Proper Shopper (1999), The London Thing (2000), Lucky (2001), Beautiful Thing (2002), Dark Angels (2004)