On 5th May 2021, the students of Mount St Mary’s experienced something spectacular, when West End Actor Rich Gittins visited school to run a series of Covid secure workshops. Each workshop covered a range of Drama scripts and styles, and Rich was astonished by the talent, commitment and dedication shown by our students.
Year 8 and Year 9 got a first-hand taste of professional Drama, with Rich delivering amazing stage combat workshops. Students focused on developing control and awareness by practicing hair pulling, stage punches and the dreaded arm twist, all with hilarious and convincing outcomes. The workshops included several exercises aimed at building trust and confidence among each other; skills that will be valuable to them as they continue to grow and progress through school. It was clear to see our students demonstrated they have an enthusiasm for working together on developing new skills and ultimately this highlights furthermore their ability to succeed.
Following this, it was time for our Year 10 Performing Arts students to light up the stage with their energy. Performing extracts from Matilda and Les Miserables, Rich was once again blown away by the commitment, talent and enthusiasm of our senior students, who were very nearly invited to make the trip back to the West End. There is no doubt that these performances will be a valuable contribution to their coursework, as well as providing students with a clear pathway of where their talents could lead them in the future.
The day was a massive success and one thing is for certain, at Mount St Mary’s, we most definitely have the stars of the future!