The Arts

Music

Shiplake has a thriving musical life and a variety of instrumental and vocal groups. Current ensembles include the Wind Band, Guitar Group, Chamber Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Composition Club, College Choir and the ever-popular Headmaster’s Hymn Practice. The groups take advantage of regular opportunities to perform throughout the year to enhance their performance skills. Professional musicians visit the College every term to give demonstrations and master classes and pupils are taken on trips to concerts in the local area as well as in London.

The Houses are also involved in such musical festivities as the annual ‘Battle of the Bands’ and the House Singing Competition which are enjoyed by the entire College community.

Drama

The College has its own Theatre Company founded in 2004 “The Mad Dogs Theatre Company” which is rapidly gaining a reputation for producing challenging performances often in unusual spaces. Past productions include “Animal Farm” staged on a farm and “The Arabian Nights” complete with 5 tons of sand! “To Be And Not To Be – A Little Show About Death and Dying And Peter Pan” – was a highly unusual piece that investigated the synchronicities between the life of Peter Pan’s creator, J M Barrie, the Llewellyn Davies boys who inspired Barrie’s famous tale and the life experiences of Andrew Birkin, film director, screenwriter and the world expert on Barrie. Birkin oversaw the production from start to finish, hot from his work on the film “Perfume” and the piece was given excellent credit for its creativity by critics and examiners alike. Most recently the versatile Tithe Barn Theatre underwent another transformation to become “The Club A GoGo” for the 60’s musical “Slice of Saturday Night” and audience members mingled with night club goers as the cast revived the fashions, fads and music of the sixties.

Younger members of the College also have a lively programme of extra-curricular drama activities ranging from the annual Junior Drama Festival to involvement with the senior company’s productions. Add to this a full range of visiting practitioners and theatre trips, and the College’s Drama Department is constantly challenging students with the wealth of possibilities for performance.