Pupils delivered an impressive display of talent and dedication this week as they took part in the All England Theatre Festival, hosted at Kimbolton School, that culminated in a successful performance and adjudication at the Lewis Hall on Sunday.

The festival preparations began earlier in the week with a series of structured rehearsals designed to ensure each company was performance-ready. On Friday 6 March, pupils attended technical rehearsals in the Lewis Hall, where they worked through staging, lighting, sound, and costume elements during two-hour slots for each production.

Three productions were prepared for the festival:

• Angels in America (Sixth Form)
• DNA (Year 11 / Fifth Form)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mixed Year Group)

The week’s preparations culminated on Sunday 8 March, when pupils assembled for the official festival performance and adjudication. The judging panel spent approximately an hour reviewing the performances and providing exceptional feedback that will help our young actors in their acting journeys going forwards.

Following the adjudication, the Sixth Form production of Angels in America was announced as the winning entry, earning the opportunity to progress to the next stage of the All England Theatre Festival.

The achievement reflects the commitment and collaboration of the cast and production team, who worked intensively throughout the week to prepare their performances.

Drama teacher Mrs Akielan, Head of Drama, praised the pupils’ efforts:

“The level of dedication and professionalism shown by all three companies was outstanding. I’m incredibly proud of the work everyone put into preparing for the festival, and it’s fantastic to see Angels in America progress to the next round.”

The school community now looks forward to supporting the Angels in America cast as they continue their journey in the All England Theatre Festival.