On the evening of May 7, a wonderful showcase of LAMDA Acting scenes was performed in the Lecture Theatre. Thirty-two LAMDA pupils, ranging from Year 7 to Year 12, took to the stage across a variety of levels, from Grade 3 right up to Grade 8 Gold Medal, with many in between.
Our audience of parents, friends from the Shiplake community, enjoyed a wide range of performances. The programme included both comedic and dramatic pieces, spanning different periods and styles.
Jacob Walker opened the evening with his Grade 4 syllabus comedy solo Opening Night, depicting a character forgetting his lines on stage—every actor’s nightmare! This was followed by a lively Grade 3 duologue, The Case of Humpty Dumpty, in which the Prosecution (Grace Perkins) attempts to uncover the cause of Humpty’s fall, while the Witness (L) inadvertently reveals their own mistakes as the builder of the wall.
D Richards performed The Resident Ghost, portraying a lonely ghost hoping to end her isolation by finding a new house buyer, if only she could resist playing tricks on them. E Banwell as Hillary and S Bignell as Sara-Kate performed The Afternoon of the Elves, presenting two neighbours with very different childhoods, one of whom struggles to care for her mother and manage financial pressures.
Charlotte Arnold and Lottie Guyan lifted the mood with their Grade 4 comedy The Forgetful Chef, in which a television presenter cannot deliver a successful take, much to the producer’s frustration. TJ Caunter and Dexter Penny followed with another Grade 4 comedic duologue, The Gingerbread Man, a bold and energetic children’s theatre piece in the ‘larger-than-life’ style of David Wood.
Ellie Bacon and Arabella Payne performed a classic scene from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, capturing the escalating tension as Gwendolen and Cecily realise they may both be engaged to the same man. P then took to the stage as writer Anne Brontë, reflecting thoughtfully on the purpose of fiction.
Mabel Reed-Ryan and Poppy White brought great energy with their Grade 4 comedy The Play of the Royal Astrologers. Eva Merry performed as Ophelia from Hamlet, delivering a sensitive portrayal as she confides in her father about his troubling behaviour. C performed a Grade 5 solo from Private Peaceful, presenting the character of Charlie facing court martial in this moving wartime story. D and Ella Campbell’s Grade 5 duologue Out on a Limb offered a humorous farce centred on miscommunication between a confused doctor and a patient with a simple ailment.
The evening continued with Bronze Medal (Grade 6) performances. Polina Brown and Masha Budnyk performed Christmas Crackers by John Godber, depicting two nurses enjoying a weekend away in Prague. Rory Collar followed with a persuasive and powerful performance as Cassius from Julius Caesar. Liam Ellison and Ed Morgan entertained the audience with their comedy scene from Proving Mr Jennings, and Atticus Curtis Green delivered a commanding final speech as the Inspector from An Inspector Calls, holding the Birling family to account.
Gold Medal (Grade 8) pupils brought the evening to a strong close. E performed Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire with sensitivity and fragility. Ben Arnold portrayed the laid-back American hippie George from Easy Rider. Charlie Brown performed as Lucy from #YOLO, exploring themes of rejection and vulnerability. The evening concluded with Ryan Bloor’s bold and commanding portrayal of Jordan from The Wolf of Wall Street.
Speaking after the showcase, LAMDA teacher Mrs Lucazeau said: 'Pupils performed their scenes with imagination, skill, clarity, and excellent timing. It was a pleasure to host the evening, reconnect with parents, and share the outstanding work from our LAMDA classes. I feel incredibly fortunate to teach such a talented group of pupils and am proud of their individual achievements and bravery.'
LAMDA exams have taken place this week, and we wish all performers the very best of luck with their results.
You can learn more about LAMDA on the College’s LAMDA page where it contains examination details, more about Mrs Luzaceau, and the link to register.
