Cranford Review 2021

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PERFORMING ARTS
102
Performing Arts
A Year Like No Other
A
single light placed at the centre of a darkened
stage denotes that theatres across the world
are closed. A ‘Ghost Light’ as they are
referred to is placed to remind the theatre ghosts of
the past that they will be remembered and the stage
will be full of light again. Not since the Second World
War have theatres been closed on such a scale. But
the Arts industry is not unused to these kinds of
challenges. Throughout history they have had to live
through closures, disease, war, Puritan outrage and
now a pandemic. Each time the industry’s resilience
and determination has resulted in a reinvention and a
creative brilliance which has brought to many much
needed joy and entertainment.
At Cranford, we work with industry professionals who
know what it is to reinvent themselves. Improvising
and adapting is an integral part of the creative process;
it is the nature of the subjects we teach. When the
pandemic hit we had to move from a wholly practical
learning experience, where “doing” and being with
others, working in groups, having physical contact,
playing instruments, singing and performing was
no longer allowed, to an online remote learning
experience, in isolation, with no instruments and
limited interaction.
The first lockdown was a real challenge finding new
ways of engaging students by trying not to deliver
a dry, uninspiring curriculum. Design elements and
storytelling, poetry and lyric writing became the
focus. Learning about the music industry and music
genres. Testing knowledge through quizzes. It was a
learning curve for everyone.
When school returned in September 2020, the team
were determined to get students back into learning
practically. Students worked in bubbles and respected
the boundaries. A new project emerged, Humans and
Humanity, based around the experiences of the first
lockdown and the pandemic. Each year group focused
on one aspect and the work culminated in some kind
of performance, depending on what was allowed. It
was not long before confidence began to build and
although limitations were in place, students need for
creativity was on the road to recovery…. then the
second lockdown happened.
Undeterred the practitioners regrouped their ideas
and adjusted their plans feeling better placed to build
on the experiences of the past. By this time the Arts
industry, primarily theatre, had created many more
online resources allowing for greater opportunities
for creativity. It was still a challenge, a challenge
which the team rose to by drawing upon their passion
for the arts, their extensive knowledge and their
determination.
The Music department wanted the students to be able
to still create their own music, to feel that music
making was still at the heart of their learning. Band
Lab proved to be invaluable in this purpose as was
Nearpod. Both platforms providing real learning
remotely.
The Drama department also drew upon online
platforms to engage the students in Drama and Theatre
Craft. The National Theatre, the Old Vic, RSC,
Chichester Festival Theatre etc, released a plethora of
pre-filmed live performances free to schools to help
bring live theatre to the students learning. Productions
of “WarHorse”, “Medea” and “Wonderland” inspired
students not just on performance elements but on
learning about the technical side of theatre including
set design, lighting and costume.
School re-opened on 8th March 2021.Much had been
achieved in building material for the Humans and
Humanity’s project. Students worked on putting into
action the written aspects and finding new ways of
presenting ideas practically. Theatre Craft lessons
had a two pronged approach using performances
of “A Monster Calls” to inspire animation using
digital software and practical activities building sets,
experimenting with stage makeup, costume design
and storytelling. In music they focussed on developing
playing skills, for year 7 the first time of actually
playing an instrument, before coming together in their
bands.
When Executive Headteacher Kevin Prunty introduced
the Arts Practitioner vision for teaching drama and
music, the fundamental idea was for it to be fun. The
past 18 months has tested this vision, but as we come
through the other side and things begin to return
to some kind of normality, there is a sense of hope
that the Ghost Light will soon disappear from stages
across the world, including those at Cranford as we
launch four new performance projects in 2021-2022.
A Christmas concert and “BadTimes” Stories studio
performance in December, Shakespeare in Schools
Festival “The Tempest” in the Spring and an original
school production to be developed across key stage
3 in July 2022. There are exciting times ahead with
much to look forward in the next academic year.
Jessica Joyce (Head of Performing Arts)