Performing Arts

We are extremely proud of the performing arts at Hatherop Castle. The disciplines of Dance, Drama and Music are included in the curriculum, but really come into their own in the numerous productions which take place during the year for all age groups, from the very youngest pupils to the very oldest.

Recent productions have included ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and ‘The Pinafore Pirates’ for our Prep 3-5 pupils, ‘Animal Rumble Grumble’ and ‘Angel Express’ for Reception to Prep 2, and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ for Prep 6-8. The pupils achieve very high standards on stage, and every child in the school is included. It is key to our ethos that everyone should have the opportunity to be involved and the children’s enthusiasm for our productions, with all the hard work that entails, is impressive.

Another important strand of our performing arts is Music. We encourage our children to get involved in a wide variety of musical ensembles, from the Prep 2 choir to the Jazz Choir, available to all pupils who enjoy singing and wish to perform at various concerts and events through the year. Our Senior Chapel Choir, for which pupils audition, leads school services including termly Evensongs, Harvest and Easter and Carol Services.

Speech and Drama is a major strength of the school with a very high number of pupils taking lessons. As well as performing at concerts and the Speech and Drama evening during the year, the children perform at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts and take the Poetry Vanguard exams and LAMDA exams. Pupils are also prepared for drama scholarships to their senior schools.