Performing Arts Report Term Four March 2008
Written by Josie Williams, Community Arts Development Officer

Ability Follows Enthusiasm

Term four draws to a close and we can once again congratulate ourselves on the range of projects that have happened to enrich the lives of our students. This term also saw us put together the new plan for our next round of Specialist Performing Arts Funding. The projects that are planned for the next three years are a natural progression from our current bid, with the emphasis this time being on three key areas, Whole School Attainment, Community Cohesion and the start of our pilot with the Creative & Media Diploma.

We say goodbye to Mandy Clegg who has been acting Deputy Head since the start of the New Year as part of her Headship Development Programme. Our new Deputy Bob Linnegar, a man who is passionate about the ‘Arts’, joins us after the Easter holidays. I for one will look forward to working with Bob who has been employed, as a side line from his Head of Faculty position at Greendown, as a film extra and is also an active member of the English Civil War Re-enactment Society. The latter will come in most helpful when we plan this module of history! Thanks to all who have made this another successful term and thanks to BBC local Radio and the Swindon Advertiser for their continued support.

Music Competition The final was staged on 14 th February following initial entries of over a 100 applicants, which was then whittled down from semi finals to the final: a winner was chosen for each category. Matt Harris won the instrumentalist section, Lauren Humphries the vocalist and Steaming Nina won the band section. A very successful event which is driven to new heights each year by the Music Department.

Swindon Juggling Club We currently have an on going partnership with Swindon Juggling Club who use our facilities on a Wednesday night and in return for use of space the club provide us with workshops. Jake the juggler took a workshop and performance to two of our feeder schools, Lethbridge and King William Street Church of England which was enjoyed by all. Robo the clown, as part of the same partnership, facilitated a circus skills and juggling workshop on Saturday 29 th March for our Family Workshops in which 30 people took part. Jake will be going into St Lukes, our special school partner next term.

Music Trip to Paris Forty one students from concert band and choir went to Paris during the February term break where they had the opportunity to perform at a hotel, a hospital and on a stage at Disneyland! The students also experienced the French culture and tourist sites. More info on our arts web site www.commonwealarts.co.uk

Five Boy 5 This project is in partnership with Swindon Dance and is designed to encourage boys into dance. Following selection workshops with secondary schools in the borough, three boys from each school were given the opportunity to work on a term break project at Swindon Dance with the UK’s leading Urban Street and Jazz dancer Irven Lewis. Yr 11s Chris Thomas and Catherine Johnson who run clubs at the school also helped out during the project. Schools then work on a routine which they will perform to parents and siblings at a sharing event at Commonweal in May.

Hands on Lighting All Yr 10 GCSE drama students took part in this hands on workshop which demystified the art of lighting a set. Led by professional John Watson the students had the chance to rig a miniature set based on one from the Covent Garden Opera House. We hope to invite John back to school on a yearly basis to impart his knowledge to the next generation of GCSE drama students.

Fairtrade Play, ‘One For Me’ Sadly this play which was billed for all Yr 8 to watch had to be cancelled due to a water shortage in Old Town.

Move It. Forty boys and girls from across the year groups went to the Move It dance exhibition in Olympia in London on 7 th March. The students watched top professionals in action and browsed the dance stalls which included further education and careers in dance. The students also took part in two dance workshops in either Jazz, Hip Hop or Street.

Stage Coach Talent Show I was delighted to be asked to judge this excellent event. The standard of performances was very high and included some of our students.

Commonweal School Radio was launched on 17 th March and will broadcast within the school premises on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes. Many thanks to Shirley Ludford for her help and support in delivering a six week training programme.

The Spring Concert held at the school on the evening of 18 th March was another stunning success with over 100 Commonweal students, from both key stages, taking part. There were also great performances from Robert Le Kyng choir who sang a recycling song written by Nick Weaver our arts technician. Lethbridge performed a wonderful African drumming piece and also a brass group which is a lunchtime club that we fund at the feeder school. The Mayor and Mayoress and dignitaries attended who all responded positively to the evening.

Old Town Library Poster Competition was organised by the Friends of the Old Town Library. We had a good response from this with the aim of highlighting the issues the library is currently facing regarding its possible closure. Many thanks to the Art Department for their help in making this happen.

Sexploration, a Peer Education project, instigated by SBC Youth Development Worker for Sexual Health and delivered by professional writer and director Christopher Lane . Open audtions were held in January and Tom Fletcher and Josie Tucker, both Yr 11 GCSE drama students, were chosen. Intensive workshops in half term and at weekends were brought to fruition in the performance held at Swindon New College on 27 th March to an invited audience. Debs Browning, KS3 Coordinator for PSHE and Citizenship attended this preview:” “I was very impressed by this extremely polished performance, which uses different elements of drama to tackle serious issues. The use of puppetry and unique characterisation was akin to the West End production of “Avenue Q” which I saw recently. I am delighted to invite this production into Commonweal, to support the current programmes in both Key Stages next term and that Gail McVicar has agreed to assist with the Peer Education Music training at Braeside in July.”

Extended School logo competition The colourful hand drawn design by Jasmine Bailey, age 7, from Even Swindon Primary School was one of 116 entries posted to the Extended Services Coordinator for the Commonweal cluster, who has been looking for a logo to represent the extended services opportunities within the 5-schools and their communities. Jasmine won a £10 HMV voucher.

Extra news from music

  • Outreach:

Alison Sutcliffe has continued her work at Robert Le Kyng through singing. The students have learnt a song written by Nick Weaver called ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ which was performed at the Commonweal Spring Concert on 18 th March. Steve Pugh, our music PGCE student has also been helping at the feeder school and prepared the students for the concert.

  • Clubs:

All clubs worked towards the spring concert. Senior choir and concert band are now preparing for the summer events. The following are running on a regular basis:

Concert band

Senior choir – numbers have increased following the Paris trip.

Junior choir

Junior band

Groovy strings

Extra news from Dance

  • Louise Blake, our dance specialist, continues to work in Robert Le Kyng, Even Swindon and King William schools.
  • Dance Leaders Award Scheme. Yr 10 & Yr 11 students are progressing well on this course. Recent workshops with our feeder primary schools have proved to be very successful and enjoyable for all.
  • Rehearsal for ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ have started and are going well.
  • Clubs in school are thriving with many working towards Summer community events.

 Extra news from Drama

  • Thanks must be given to Claire Parsloe for once again coming to our rescue regarding drama cover whilst Heather Birkbeck has been off on sick leave. Claire leaves after Easter to join Bradon Forest as a full time drama teacher.
  • Ex student Simon Foster who is studying drama at New College has worked alongside Claire in the delivery of our Yr 7 & Yr 8 Wednesday lunchtime drama club. Simon will continue on his own after the Easter break on a performance for KS2 and also a Street Theatre project for the Old Town Festival.
  • Thanks also to Debs Browning for taking on the mammoth task of tutoring YR 11 GCSE groups. This also includes running lunchtime Yr 10 & Yr 11 GCSE Drama Club.
  • Ruth Beckett continues with outreach at King William Street School.

  Coming soon...

23rd April Trip to the West End to see Joseph and His Amazing Techicolour Dreamcoat. Organised by Debs Browning this evening trip is open to all year groups.

23rd April St George’s Day performance by the choir and concert band in the Parade, Swindon Shopping Centre

Week commencing 28th April Yr 10 Work Experience project with profesional company Big State, held at The Wyvern Theatre.

28th, 29th and 30th April Swindon Festival Literature Youth Poetry workshops for all schools in the borough which culminates with the Grand Slam at The Arts Centre on Saturday May 10th.

Five Boy 5 dance performacne and sharing of all secondary schools in Swindon takes place in partnership with Swindon Dance at Commonweal on the evening of 1st May

7th May Theatre in Education, presented by New College and organised by ex student Shani Corder, deliver a lunchtime workshop to our Yr 7 & Yr 8 Wednesday drama club.

8th May dance workshop with Big Mission during the evening at Swindon Dance. Students watch the professionals in action the next eveing.

8th May Youth Dance Academy workshop

22nd May, Phantom of the Opera trip to the West End

Next Steering Group meeting in the school library on 9th June at 5.30pm