It was a remarkable week for the Drama department, which welcomed three leading theatre professionals to deliver a series of transformative workshops for Drama boys across the school.
The department, known for its strong tradition of academic lectures and practical workshops, kicked off the week with actor Stephen Smith, who worked with GCSE and A-Level boys on the art of mime. Stephen’s session encouraged boys to explore how physical movement can shape the world of a play, helping them communicate meaning without words. The workshop culminated in a live performance of Dog by Stephen Berkoff, leaving boys inspired by the power of minimalist theatre.
Midweek, the spotlight turned to Alecky Blythe, one of the UK’s foremost Verbatim Theatre practitioners. Blythe—playwright, director and creator of Our Generation, which premiered at the National Theatre—introduced boys to her unique listening and performance techniques. Using real audio material from years of interviews with teenagers, boys learned how to replicate speech with precise accent and vocal intonation, gaining insight into the authenticity and emotional depth that defines Verbatim Theatre.
To round off the week, Upper Sixth A-Level Drama boys took part in a bespoke workshop with Nick O’Brien, the UK’s leading expert on Russian theatre practitioner, Konstandtin Stanislavski. The session focused on their set text The Woman in Black and challenged boys to apply Stanislavski’s techniques to bring greater truth and emotional realism to their performances.
Reflecting on the week, Head of Academic Drama Mrs Antoinette Keylock shared, “I have worked hard over the past 10 years at Bedford to forge links with theatre professionals in the wider community. It is great to see the boys thrive in workshops and witness their acting skills develop.”
This trio of workshops not only enriches the curriculum but also deepens boys’ understanding of diverse theatrical styles—from physical theatre and verbatim storytelling to psychological realism. It was a week that celebrated creativity and the transformative power of live performance.
