{"id":8521,"date":"2024-08-30T15:59:11","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T18:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grange.cl\/?p=8521"},"modified":"2024-08-30T15:59:51","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T18:59:51","slug":"learn-about-performing-arts-evenings-and-our-drama-programme-at-the-grange-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grange.cl\/es\/2024\/08\/30\/learn-about-performing-arts-evenings-and-our-drama-programme-at-the-grange-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn about Performing Arts Evenings and our Drama Programme at The Grange School"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spanish version.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performing Arts Evening<\/strong>: A new<\/strong> tradition at our School<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 21st, our School celebrated the first official edition of the Performing Arts Evening, an event that originated in 2021 during the pandemic. This initiative aims to showcase and share with the Community some of the outstanding work created by pupils from both national and international Drama courses in Senior School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the pupils who participated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants:<\/strong> Ethan Jana, Catalina Legassa, Nicol\u00e1s Berndt, Emilia Moreno, Catalina Cort\u00e9s, Ana Krefft, Isabel Soto, Emma Mac-Auliffe, Juli\u00e1n Contreras, Rosario Diez, Manuel Pereira, Samuel Levine, Tobias Eatough, Amaya Selman, Clemente Vergara, Le\u00f3n Undurraga, Tom\u00e1s del R\u00edo, Isidora Herreros, Emilia Quijada, Camila Schmidt, Amelia Espinosa, Ema Moro, Catalina Naylor, Matilda B\u00e1ez, Vicente Salgado, Mateo Ostornol, Maximiliano Acu\u00f1a, Mat\u00edas Lobo, Luc\u00eda Cubillos, Ana Koch, Emma Katz, Olivia Secondo, Agustina Nieto, Diego Cifuentes, Gabriel Gacit\u00faa, Lucas Boza, Mat\u00edas Delgado, and Marcelo Aste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A special mention goes to everyone for their excellent work. Notably, this was the first time the entire production was student-led, with pupils managing not only the acting but also the lighting and sound. Additionally, the set design, props, and costumes were all created and designed by the cast and students from Senior School Drama courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event marks the beginning of a new tradition in our School, where creativity and collaboration are celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Behind the scenes: A Journey to the Show<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold, pale, and grey, the shiny sky reflected off Jean Jackson Hall. It\u2019s 9 a.m., and teenagers begin to trickle in. Some left the room only 16 hours ago; others arrive, screaming and laughing, bags slung over their shoulders, dressed for the challenge ahead. Some know what awaits them, others do not, but their presence marks a rare phenomenon within our School. From that moment until the evening (around 10 p.m.), it will be in their hands whether the ephemeral fades or this unique gem shines: The Performing Arts Evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Performing Arts Evening?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An event crafted entirely by our pupils, The Performing Arts Evening is a showcase of diverse works produced by the Senior School Drama Department. It originated in 2021, in response to the pandemic, when the traditional Musical Theatre Production became difficult to organise due to health restrictions affecting our academic practices and lifestyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event highlights various expressions of theatre, live art, and performance. In the future, it may feature dance and other manifestations of performing arts, evolving as a bold and contemporary concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first edition included works from both IGCSE and A-Level pupils, and the efforts to continue this tradition have only grown since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this instance, the entire crew consisted of pupils from national and international programs. 2\u00b0 EM students and former IGCSE pupils Amaya Selman and Tobias Eatough, opened the night by presenting the opening scene from Eugene Ionesco\u2019s Theatre of the Absurd play The Bald Soprano<\/em>, which they developed as part of their IGCSE coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Context of Performing Arts Evenings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before diving into these pieces, let\u2019s provide some context. As part of our School\u2019s mission, we encourage our pupils to choose elective courses within the Cambridge Assessment Curriculum. In 8\u00b0 B\u00e1sico, students choose from subjects and fields such as Business Studies or French. Each subject follows its own assessment path, including exams in all cases and practical coursework in specific subjects. In IGCSE Drama, coursework is a fundamental part of the process, with pupils developing three pieces that address various assessment objectives and devising processes in Drama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of these is an individual piece based on a monologue. Over the past two years, the Drama Department has chosen to focus on tragic monologues from the ancient or classical tradition, featuring playwrights such as Sophocles and Aeschylus. This approach aligns with the Spanish curriculum, in which pupils read plays such as Electra and Antigone. This method not only broadens the IGCSE Drama students’ understanding of repertoire\u2014an important assessment objective\u2014but also reinforces interdisciplinary collaboration across Departments in the Senior School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, in response to a generous invitation from the Communications team, five pupils took on the challenge of blending their individual pieces, merging texts from Medea, Richard III, and Electra to create an extraordinary piece of contemporary drama, which was performed at Old Grangonian Day 2023. Olivia Ureta, Emilia Quijada, Camila Schmidt, Laura Marchetti, and Amaya Selman experienced the thrill and energy of performing live on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-Lasting Learning Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on last week\u2019s Performing Arts Evening, Tobias and Amaya\u2019s work on Ionesco\u2019s classic provided a clear demonstration of the standards and expectations for Drama IGCSE pupils on stage. Both students excelled in their assessments, achieving the highest possible marks with this performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this excerpt, the audience was treated to a scene from “Boom,” a group piece based on Jean Tay\u2019s literary work, set in a contemporary Vietnamese context. This piece is being developed by 1\u00b0EM IGCSE students Emma Katz, Olivia Secondo, Agustina Nieto, and Ana Koch. The choice of this piece\u2014suggested by Cambridge Assessment\u2014reflects a growing trend within the IGCSE curriculum: exploring dramatic scripts from both Western and Non-Western traditions, which expands the cultural horizons and critical thinking skills of our pupils as they translate scripts into performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To close the first segment of the evening led by IGCSE pupils, we witnessed an original devised piece titled “Skyfall.” Original Devised Pieces are performances created, crafted, and performed by students based on various stimuli or materials provided by the teacher. For this specific piece, the pupils were tasked with developing their work by drawing inspiration from memories of their own families and heritage, engaging in research and personal inquiry within their family contexts. This approach involved not only their peers but the broader Community in our creative practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result was a plot that wove together family adventures, accidents, and sorrow. Isidora Herreros, Camila Schmidt, and Emilia Quijada delivered outstanding performances and created an excellent environment for Drama A-Level student Tom\u00e1s del R\u00edo, who joined the group as a last-minute substitute. The entire group displayed courage, inventiveness, and a bold performance style that challenged traditional notions of dramatic space and audience interaction by placing the performance in the middle of the Jean Jackson Assembly Hall instead of using the usual stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These remarkable performances not only impressed our Community but also earned the highest possible grades from Cambridge Assessment as part of their coursework, making this cohort of IGCSE Drama pupils the highest-ranked since 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We share with you some videos that summarizes the work pupils have been doing since 2021: “The outcome from this performance amongst other several<\/em>“. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about IGCSE and A Level Programmes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At The Grange School, pupils are encouraged from the very beginning of their studies to explore different artistic formats, styles, and genres. Through their immersion in these creative practices\u2014ranging from choir, band, and visual arts to Drama\u2014they have the opportunity to choose, upon entering Senior School, which \u201cpath\u201d they will follow from 8\u00b0 B\u00e1sico to 2\u00b0EM. This decision is made in both the national and international curriculums, the latter being the IGCSE, the outcomes of which were partially showcased that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evening continued with two scenes from the MAD (National Curriculum) programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can see the complete Cambridge programmes making click in the photos below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2\u00b0EM pupils presented their work on “Ni\u00f1as Ara\u00f1a,” a play written by renowned Chilean playwright Luis Barrales. Amelia Espinosa, Ema Moro, and Catalina Naylor brought to life the characters of a precarious Chile, where the play explores reflections on crime and the critical situations faced by vulnerable youth in the country. Backstage support was provided by Vicente Salgado, Mateo Ostornol, and Matilda B\u00e1ez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this, we saw a three-scene play titled “Under the Sun,” inspired by the works of American painter Edward Hopper and the plot of the award-winning film “Oppenheimer.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performers Diego Cifuentes, Gabriel Gacit\u00faa, Lucas Boza, Mat\u00edas Delgado, and Marcelo Aste interpreted, designed, and brought this creation to life as part of the national curriculum at The Grange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A-Levels: A necessary conclusion for two years work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme for the evening concluded with two remarkable performances by the A-Level cohort of 2024. These group creations, based on notable dramaturgical works, included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n