A warm welcome to the recordings of the 2021 LAMDA showcase performances in the Arundel Centre. The LAMDA students gave us a rich cornucopia of theatre, with each of the 62 students performing their unique combination of pieces: Year 8s on Tuesday and Year 9s on Wednesday - the running order is beside each ‘Act’.

At the beginning of the course, the students select a scene from the LAMDA Set List and the other is a freer Own Choice piece - as long as it has been published it can come from anywhere! They are given a host of suggestions and encouraged to research: this year's students embraced that opportunity with verve. They were terrifically adventurous bringing in their own original choices including: adapting monologues from novels ‘Cue for Treason’, ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Thunderhead’; and manga ‘Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer)’; selecting scenes from theatre they had seen ‘Les Miserables’ and 'Wicked'; and screenplays ‘Fences’ and ‘The Muppet Movie’. The programme has something for everyone: from chilling monologues by The Joker and Voldemort; to poetic scenes from Shakespeare; poignant vignettes from Bernard Kops and Nicola Hipps; dramatic action from E Nesbit and Nancy Harris; and hilarious comic relief from Roald Dahl, Emma Louise Tinniswood, Alexander Ostrovsky and Oscar Wilde...to mention a few!

This cohort has been incredible. The students’ commitment and inventiveness shows in the passion, poise and precision of their performances. Less visible, but equally impressive, is the level of creative energy and commitment they sustained throughout the course and their generous encouragement of each other in their creative collaborations. The fruits of their labours show in the wonderful panache and power of their work - their enjoyment shines through. Congratulations to each of them!

Special thanks to:

• Mr Gray for his lighting and filming expertise, and Mr Copson for technical assistance

• Mr Subramaniam and Mrs Daniels for these beautiful photographs

• Ms Hill, Head of Drama, for all her support

Thank you for watching, we hope you enjoy the ‘show’.

Ms Penglase and Ms Leighton

Note: On Tuesday Maya Hamilton-Brown was unwell, so Alanna Forbes stood in for her. Thank you and well done Alanna!

Note on staging: As the LAMDA Showcase is also a preparation for their examination, the staging is minimal as per LAMDA requirements: “Full costume is not permitted, but long practice skirts which help to indicate/suggest period may be worn together with small costume items such as scarves, shawls, or canes. Hairstyles must not obscure the face. Hand props must be kept to a minimum.” The course focuses on developing the students’ creative and communication skills. They are assessed in four Skill areas: Vocal, Physical, and Interpretive, plus Theoretical Understanding.