Year 13 Drama and Media students spent four exhilarating days at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August – the world’s largest celebration of the performing arts.

They experienced a fantastic range of theatrical and musical experiences, and in total attended over 20 shows. Highlights included improvised comedies (Showstopper! and Austentatious, in which a hilarious Jane Austen pastiche is created from scratch), profound dramatic performances (A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain and Good Grief), and musical extravaganzas such as Out of the Blue (the legendary Oxford-based a capella group) and the intriguingly titled Drag Queens vs Zombies.

They returned from Edinburgh full of inspiration for the devised practical work they will be creating this term, and with a passion for this beautiful city and its unique festival.

MRS KELLEY (DIRECTOR OF DRAMA)

I loved Receptionists. Two actors from Finland, cleverly named ‘From Start to Finnish’ Theatre Collective, performed a mostly mimed/physical theatre piece exploring hotel receptionists' duties and the hospitality industry. Contemporary clowning, nonsensical languages and complex physical sequences depicted the competitive desire to appease a series of fictional guests.  A masterclass in rubbery facial expression and precision movement. Captivating and hilarious!

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ELOISE V D W (YEAR 13)

The Choir of Man is an exceptional show comprising male singers. Set in a fictional bar, they play instruments reminiscent of a typical pub atmosphere, as well as choosing appropriate songs and even inviting audience members on stage. As well as the incredible talent of the singers and players, there is an emotional storyline throughout the performance. Overall it was really cool to see and probably my favourite of all the amazing performances we were blessed with at the Fringe Festival.