This annual trip has consistently been a highlight for upper school students, providing them with an immersive experience of what studying GCSE and A-level drama entails.
Over many years, different activities have been offered and enjoyed, and this year was no exception. Students enjoyed two West End musicals, a trip to London’s V&A museum, as well as a private workshop to aid students in developing their on-stage presence and confidence.

Wicked

First staged in 2003, Wicked is a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, and its enduring popularity has captivated audiences across London and beyond. It recently gained new publicity when performed in cinemas with the incredible talents of Ariana Grande, and Cythia Erivo and Ribston could not miss the opportunity to see it live on stage. One student, who had previously seen wicked commented on how seeing it helped their love of performing grow and blossom and would recommend it to everyone.

Les Misérables

Another standout moment for students was watching Les Misérables, a timeless musical exploring themes of social injustice and resilience. Isla Stevenson, a Year 10 Drama GCSE student commented: “From the get-go, it was the most immersive show I've ever witnessed. I've never laughed, cried and smiled at anything quite like it’. The show gave students an opportunity to explore the emotional depth of on-stage characters, enriching their understanding of drama and character development.

The Wicked Workshop

Students this year were very lucky to have a specialised drama workshop which many saw as the highlight of the trip; Penny Steele, a Year 11 Drama and Music student, shared her excitement: “The workshop was well-organised and fascinating. Not only did we learn the music and choreography for ‘One Short Day,’ but we also gained valuable insights into characterisation”. I asked Penny about her favourite bit of the trip, and she told me: “My favourite part was performing “One Short Day” at the end. We got to show the teachers what we had learnt throughout the workshop, and it was so much fun. The industry professionals who ran the workshop really helped me to feel confident in the character that I created and taught all of us that we shouldn’t be embarrassed when performing”.

  
As students who took the trip were mainly from drama and music, I was interested to know about her thoughts on the value of the trip in helping them understand their curriculum. One student said “I honestly think this trip is so valuable for anyone who is interested in musical theatre. For aspiring students, there is inspiration for what can be achieved, as for current students, it provides great examples of what you're studying and is simply so much fun!”. Whilst another duel subject student stated “the trip helped me to expand my knowledge and understanding. For example, in the workshop, we were taught how status and power is conveyed in “Wicked”. We got to analyse photos from the show and share how we thought each character felt. This is linked to GCSE Drama, because in drama we are always looking at body language to further our understanding of a character. Additionally, when learning the music for “One Short Day”, we got to learn harmonies so that there was a soprano and an alto line. This linked to GCSE Music as I got to practice holding harmonies.”

Mrs Hill said she believes this opportunity should not be missed as it helps students to gain an understanding of the avenues that are open for keen performers on London’s West End. Her favourite part of the trip, agreeing with many students, was seeing Les Misérables live on stage as well as the workshop opportunity that gave her an insight into dance and music in the heart of musical theatre.

If this trip is something that interests you, you don’t hesitate to talk to Dr. Yang or Mrs Hill on possible opportunities in the future. Thank you so much to everyone involved in organising this trip and the effort of everyone involved in making it so special – it was a giant success!