Brentwood School - Brentwoodian 2020

37 When I found out we would be doing Bugsy Malone I was really excited. At first I wasn’t too sure how we would pull it off, as we had to record from our own homes. But once I learnt how it would work, I really enjoyed doing a virtual performance because it was a chance to try something new. We also had some help along the way from some older pupils, which was really inspiring and we gained a lot from their knowledge and experience. It was very interesting to work with people virtually and at times, a bit confusing. However there were a few bonuses, for example, if you forgot one of your lines, you could restart the scene because it wasn’t live! It was also exciting to record all the songs and the chorus parts. It was a fun challenge and I really enjoyed taking part in it. By Anna Romhany bugsy malone Over lockdown the Drama Department was determined to provide us with several captivating opportunities to help test, maintain and expand our acting skills. In order to improve how we perform and deliver monologues, Brentwood School’s Drama Department set up a classical monologue competition. We each were given complete freedom with what text we wished to perform as long as it was from the time period of ‘Pre- Naturalism’. This was such a stimulating activity as for most of us, we were delving into an era of drama which we knew little about . We were exposed to different styles of acting and unfamiliar language, forcing us out of our comfort zones to broaden and adapt our skills to create an effective performance. As a consequence of the lockdown measures, we were required to send in a self-tape of us performing our chosen monologues. This in itself was a highly rewarding experience as self-taping is such a vital skill for actors and we got to experiment with it and resultantly gained valuable experience. Our work was later judged by the talented actor, Joe Bannister, who gave each entry constructive feedback making sure to highlight each individual's successes within the performance, and also share with us specific aspects we needed to personally improve on. This advice was incredibly beneficial as it helped us to identify areas we needed to work on which would help us grow as actors in the future. Overall, the experience of the classical monologue competition was both challenging and entertaining. It provided us with an effective way to both showcase our impressive ability and talent whilst simultaneously allowing us to flourish and develop as actors. By Eima Cupples Classical Monologue Online Competition I believe the production of As You Like It was truly representative of not only the Drama Department’s, but also the entire School’s attitude at the time of lockdown. Although separated, we came together even stronger than before to pull off an immensely challenging task. In a time of dismal monotony, the radio play was a shining star for many, and produced many laughs and enjoyment when both rehearsing and recording. Recording itself was a very new experience for many of us, and Shakespeare is tricky to tackle at even the easiest times! However, thanks to the always expert guidance of the shrewd and creative Mr Bulmer and his right-hand man, the intelligent and talented student Will Johnson, the cast were led to an overall outstanding performance. Abbie Thompson acted a gentle and lovely Celia, with the always hilarious Eima Cupples as Touchstone. This was accompanied by the incredibly talented Emily O’Sullivan as the handsome Orlando. We were even treated to a serenade by Elizabeth Moore’s angelic voice! If I could mention every single person, I would. However, you would sit reading my rapturous reviews of the cast for hours and hours and, unfortunately, I must allow room on the page for all the other fantastic achievements and productions that the Department delivers! Overall, this production was challenging and different, but in the best possible ways. It brought us warmly together in a time of separation and loneliness and lit a bright candle in the dark. Adieu, By Rosie Parrish As you like it