Barry Comprehensive School

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The Creative Arts Faculty at Barry Comprehensive School has had a very busy month so far! Each department, within the faculty, has given the pupils the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding and participate in a range of activities during the last six weeks.

The Drama Department produced the delightful, yet sinister play, “The Demon Headmaster”. Pupils from Years 7 to 10 performed together in the Drama Studio, for two evenings and proved, yet again, the wealth of talent amongst the younger pupils. Directed by Mrs Ellis, the play revealed a fresh, enthusiastic cast of young men, eager to show off their acting skills, for some of them, the first time on stage.

The following week, the Art Department, set off for London, to explore the Art galleries. The Tate Modern proved to be a great success and has inspired the G.C.S.E. groups, already with their coursework. Looking at professional artists certainly plays an important role in their understanding of Art and excursions to London to visit the famous galleries is essential for their enjoyment of painting and drawing.

The ‘A’ Level Theatre Studies groups performed their revised play, one Saturday in March, as part of their Practical Examination in Performance Skills. Year 12 devised a play called “Secrets, Lies and Redemption”, based on Asylum Seekers. All students gained a high grade by the external examiner and Year 13 performed a selection of extracts from the Irish drama “The Lieutenant of Irishmore”, a black comedy that had the examiner and audience in fits of laughter from beginning to end. Yet again, all students achieved top marks, proving the standard of performance work at Barry Comprehensive continues to be the best.

It was the turn of the Music Department next and their ‘A Night At The Musicals 2’. From the opening chords and robotic movements of Radio Gaga by Queen to the hi-energy performance and slick production of Relight My Fire by Take That, the production was a rollercoaster of energy, emotions and styles which was enthusiastically received during the two nights.

Outstandingly talented musicians, singers and dancers working together to create an exciting programme, ranging from old favourites like “Grease” The pupils had decided to mix classic musicals such as Les Misèrables, Phantom Of The Opera and The Rat Pack with more contemporary sounds from Mama Mia, We will Rock You and Wicked,. The hall was certainly rocking and when James Sullivan won the X-Factor section of the evening with his version of Queen’s “Somebody to Love”, the audience cheered and roared with delight. James is in Year 9 and already has two great performances under his belt (he played the lead character in “The Demon Headmaster”) in less than two weeks! Watch this space! The Year 10 Expressive Arts groups highly entertaining song and dance rendition of Grease Lightning proved boys can really dance!

A truly exciting month for the Arts and it doesn’t stop there. In the summer term, pupils from Year 10 will be participating in a wonderful project with famous composer Michael Parkin. The project aims to include film, photography, drama and music for the first time. Pupils will compose music, write narratives and create visual images through photography and film to create a ‘Performance Art’ piece to be performed at the Millennium Centre and Cardiff Wales Airport. More news on this innovative project next month. All members of the Creative Arts Faculty deserve a rest, before they start again in the summer, to recharge their batteries.

Photos

1. The Cast of the Demon Headmaster
2. And you thought Mr. Swallow was strict
3. The group outside the British Museum
4. Inside the Tate Modern
5. Jason Sullivan - The X-Factor Winner
6. Radio Gaga
7. Abbey Stirland with Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked
8. Tom Kinch with Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
9. Jason Ivens with On The Horizon taken from Lord Of The Rings
10. Haydn Pullum with Moondance
11. Daniel Saunders with Summer of '69