In the first addition of ‘A Conversation With…’ 2026 and ahead of next week’s production of Our House, we caught up with Jack Dag, who will be taking on the lead role of Joe Casey! Joe is an avid performer and has been with us at Shiplake since Year 7.
How long have you been a pupil at Shiplake and what roles or activities have you been involved in during your time?
I joined Shiplake in Year 7 in 2020. During my time at Shiplake so far, I have played in the Ensemble in Joseph, Tweedledum in Alice in Wonderland, Cyndie Lauper in The Wedding Singer, Freddie in My Fair Lady, and now Joe Casey in Our House. I have also been involved in the ‘Theatre through the age's’ night in the Tithe Barn and am looking forward to heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe in August with the Drama department.
What are you studying at A level and why?
For A-levels I am studying Drama, Politics, and Psychology. I chose these subjects as they were the ones that interested me most as they allow me to explore both my creative and academic skills.
What have been your most memorable moments at Shiplake?
My most memorable moment at Shiplake so far is the production last year because it’s how I met my one of my closest friends.
The College production of ‘Our House’ is next week; how are you and the cast feeling ahead of the big day?
The cast and I are all feeling very excited ahead of next week. I can say on behalf of everyone that we are all immensely grateful for Mrs Farrell, Miss Griffiths, Miss Scofield, Mrs Rapple-Moore and Miss Haynes and the work they have put in to make this all possible. We are very excited for move in day on Monday to see the set that we know as tape on the floor come to life! I’m sure there will be many thrills and spills over the course of next week, but it will hopefully all come together by show night.
What are some of the joys and challenges of performing on stage?
A joy of performing on stage is the pride you feel afterwards not only for yourself but also for your castmates. It’s an amazing experience watching a show come together and knowing that everyone's hard work has paid off. A challenge of performing on stage is dealing with nerves and pressure especially with live theatre because your mistakes cannot be edited out which requires quick thinking even while you’re feeling stressed.
For you personally, how does this production differ to ones you've done in the past?
This production differs from past shows I've been in as its required lots of independence and responsibility. I’ve had to work independently learning over 300 lines and 11 songs all whilst developing an understanding of my character. This has meant that I've had to stay organized and put in lots of effort outside of rehearsals which has been challenging at times but very rewarding.
What do you hope to do when you leave Shiplake next year?
When I leave Shiplake I either hope to go to Drama school and study Professional dance and Musical Theatre or go to university but now I'm still trying to decide what would be better and if I went to university, what I would want to study.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I like to spend time with my friends, listen to music and go on walks especially in summer.
The Whole College production of Our House will take to the stage at the Kenton Theatre in Henley next week on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 February. Tickets are limited, so we encourage to book now if you haven’t already. You can purchase tickets here.
