Following their successful staging of Twelfth Night last Christmas, the Stanhope Players decided to embrace the festive spirit with their latest production. This year, the group benefited from dedicated enrichment time on Wednesday afternoons, allowing rehearsals to begin as early as October. Students involved in the Drama Enrichment group enjoyed running scenes, brainstorming props, and refining staging, but the true magic unfolded once the stage was delivered, bringing the production to life.
Three performances took place, with the evening shows almost fully sold out. Julie Ashmore, Course Leader English Literature commented: “Many audience members took the time to congratulate the cast on their wonderful professionalism, with one attendee describing it as “a truly heartfelt piece. I am so proud of everyone who took part and can’t wait to work on something new in 2025.”
This is what our students had to say:
Flo Backes: “The show was a great thing to be part off and I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and working with them.”
Hermoine Sewell: “I really enjoyed my experience in a Christmas Carol. I got to make so many new friends and it really boosted my confidence. The energy both onstage and backstage was incredible and I loved being in a supportive environment!”
Layla Walsh: “The drama was great! I really enjoyed the performance and the energy everyone brought to the stage. It was a fantastic experience! The way the characters were developed and the emotions portrayed made it really engaging. I loved how everyone worked together to bring the story to life. Can’t wait to see what we do next!”
Sadie Guy: “I enjoyed doing the show “A Christmas Carol” because it allowed an experience to meet new people as well as an expanded knowledge and creative insight into Drama which could be used to study plays in my Literature A Level.”
Evie Legender: “I really enjoyed taking part in drama this term due to the level of teamwork and friendship within the group. As I have never taken part in a drama club outside of the group I attend at home, I found it interesting to act with and talk to different people who I have never spoke to before. I have made some good friends and I feel like it has helped me to feel more confident and involved in the college community. I’m excited to see what we do next year!”
Niamh Bage: “‘Being part of my last production with the Stanhope players has been incredibly bittersweet. Whilst I will miss being a part of such a supportive and talented group of people, the show allowed me to develop my confidence performing and gave me a welcome break at times when I really needed it. Everyone involved was amazing, and I’m incredibly proud of all for what we managed to pull off!”
Amelie Nichols: “Being part of the show on stage and the lighting/sound team for the show was such an amazing experience. I was able to show off my skills on the technical side of a production and my love for performing on stage in front of an audience. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work on both sides of the production and it was an experience I will never forget, meeting and working with new people and having fun with everyone involved.”
