NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE SUCCESS!

May 21, 2024 | Ackworth School, Drama, Senior School, Sixth Form

Six students from Ackworth School have beaten the odds to be offered places in the 2024 intake of the National Youth Theatre.

Congratulations to Adam (L6), Erin (Y11), Eve (Y11), Harvey (Y11), Feli (Y10) and Nina (Y10), who have all been offered places on National Youth Theatre (NYT) courses. All six students have developed their performance skills in academic Drama lessons, LAMDA/Trinity classes and numerous extracurricular performances at Ackworth School.

The NYT holds annual acting auditions and technical theatre interviews around the United Kingdom, receiving an average of over 6,500 applicants. Currently, around 500 places are offered on summer acting and technical courses, which offer participants NYT membership upon completion. Members are then eligible to audition for the company’s productions, which are staged in London’s West End, around the country, and internationally.

There is a long list of performers who started at NYT and are now performing on the global stage – Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matt Smith, Sheridan Smith, just to name a few. NYT alumni include some of the world’s most celebrated performers and award-winning backstage talent working at leading events around the globe and as cultural leaders at leading venues.

14 students from Ackworth auditioned for a place back in March 2024, with students participating in a three hour workshop with a professional actor, before engaging in a one-to-one audition where they had to perform a monologue of their choice. The six students who successfully applied have all been invited to a two-week acting course over the summer, after which they become official members of the company. Thereafter, they have a rich range of opportunities at their fingertips – from play auditions to skill workshops, from masterclasses to theatre, film and TV castings – from their respective points of entry up to the age of 25.

Some of the successful applicants shared their feelings on the experience:

Harvey said, ‘It is a honour to get in to NYT with how difficult the competition is. I am excited to start soon and hope to progress using the course.’

Feli said, ‘When I found out I got into NYT honestly at first I didn’t believe it! I had to double check that it wasn’t a mistake because, from what I’ve been told about it and from what I have researched, to get into NYT is a once in a lifetime opportunity because it opens so many doors in terms of acting. Thousands of people audition and some of them more then once, so to get in first try is just incredible. This is an opportunity not many get and I am forever grateful.’

Nina said, ‘On the day of the National Youth Theatre workshop and auditions I felt excited but nervous as I didn’t know what to expect. As the day went on, I began to enjoy myself and to see that the NYT teacher was fun and friendly. When it was time for the audition, I felt much more confident and I was amazed when I was accepted as part of the NYT. I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity!’

Adam said, ‘Being rewarded the opportunity to be an NYT member means an awful lot to me. I started my journey in drama at Ackworth and have loved every moment of it since. Perhaps naturally, I never thought too much of acting as a “serious” avenue for me to pursue beyond my days at Ackworth given the volatile and harsh nature of its industry. However, earning a place in the NYT feels like I’ve got a foot in the door. I can visualise keeping drama in my life beyond school and I now have a real and professional opportunity to do so. It’s honestly so exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck into all that the NYT has to offer and to take all that I’ve learnt at Ackworth to develop it further.’

Head of Drama, Ali Boucher, said, ‘It is a fantastic result for these students, whose hard work, commitment and passion have been justly rewarded. For one student to beat such odds is a success worthy of huge celebration, as we did last year when OId Scholar Grace became the first Ackworth student to gain membership of the NYT in recent years. But for Ackworth to have six successful applicants this year, for us to build on that success in this way, is just fantastic. I am excited for the future, not just for them but for all of our Drama students at Ackworth. We have a wealth of performance talent across all years – not just those unlucky enough to narrowly miss out, who deserve to try again next year, but also those too young to audition last March. We will absolutely apply to audition again next year, and we will be working with all of our students to enable them to emulate these feats in the years to come, to showcase and deepen their talents, and to show how all areas of Ackworth’s Performance Faculty deliver above and beyond expectations for the young people we teach.’

If you would like to find out more about how Ackworth School can support your child to unlock their full potential, why not book a bespoke visit or contact our admissions team on admissons@ackworthschool.com or 01977 233621.

Ackworth Sixth Form put their filmmaking skills to the test!

Sep 14, 2023 | Ackworth School, Boarding, Drama, Senior School, Sixth Form

Ackworth School Sixth Form students put their filmmaking skills to the test today with the One Day Film School.

In the morning, they learned the essentials:

Film History – from the early days of film to the latest in special effects.

Fight Choreography – analysing James Bond/Indiana Jones fight scenes… and filming their own screen punch.

Camera – learning to use an iPad like a pro, tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes, making a practice 3 Shot Film about a theft.

Screenwriting – discovering 3 key things every good script needs, how to tell a great story, create memorable characters… and make us care.

In the afternoon, pupils took the 10 Shot Challenge: creating a short film (2mins, max) based on a classic narrative (eg. ’Someone is kidnapped, an attempted rescue’) for premiering at the end of the day. Pupils self-allocated a role within their film crew (writer, director, producer, screenwriter, actors).

Most adverts take several months to make, so the challenge of making a successful short film in just ninety minutes can be daunting. However, the groups gelled exceptionally well, showed great leadership and teamwork, and no-one missed the deadline. Their final task was to introduce their film, just like at the Cannes film festival, and give it a poster tagline (eg. ‘In space no-one can hear you scream’). Then it was time for the VIP judges (Anton Maree, Head and Young Film Academy representatives) to take their seats and decide which would win the ultimate prize: the Best Picture Oscar…

The standard was very high, so it was a tough decision… the Best Picture Oscars was awarded to ‘The Rescue Mission’. It told an engaging, entertaining story which was technically superb: the judges were particularly impressed by the excellent performances and high standard of camerawork, editing and sound design. Congratulations to the winning team – hope to see you at the (real) Oscars!

Collecting for Rick Wood’s “Try” – Open Day 2022

Jul 12, 2022 | Ackworth School, Drama

“‘Try’ was really something else; a powerful message and brilliant writing, coupled with the incredible work of Grace and Adam. I would argue that it’s probably some of the best work ever performed on that stage… It was such an important piece to see performed.” (Audience member)

On behalf of Grace, Adam, Ella and myself, I wanted to thank all those people who came to watch our production of Rick Wood’s “Try” on Open Day 2022 at Ackworth School.

We have received so many wonderful comments, rightly praising the extraordinary work of Grace and Adam, as well as Rick Wood’s powerful text. It has all been rather overwhelming! We have been glad for the end of term to help process our feelings about it all. It goes without saying that we are so grateful for your generous response; we are so grateful that people realise how important a play this is. As a teacher, I am particularly grateful to you for showing your appreciation of my students: I am biased, but they are wonderful and dedicated and passionate, and they deserved your acclaim. For all and to all – thank you so much.

We have received a number of requests for us to perform “Try” once more, and we are planning on staging another performance early in the Christmas Term 2022. Entirely typically of the three students, they have agreed to this immediately, despite the fact that reviewing the text, rehearsing and teaching the play will require them being in school and working in the holidays, some time before term starts. Please keep an eye on Ackworth School’s social media for the latest updates: we would love to welcome you back to the Fothergill Theatre, whether you missed it the first time, or if you are back for a second viewing!

It isn’t every day that we receive nigh-on a full house for a theatre production at Ackworth. Grace and Adam’s fantastic performances deserved those numbers, but I would argue that every production we put on does too – goodness knows the effort and commitment and determination of our students, from 1st form right through to Upper Sixth, is the same. Next year, please come to support our students’ endeavours! The first half of the Christmas Term sees, in addition to “Try”, a Sixth Form solo production of Margaret Edson’s “Wit” and a night of spoken word and performance by Sixth Form EPQ students; the second half of term is the School’s Senior Musical, and we are also hoping to showcase the examination work of the school’s many LAMDA Speech and Drama students in an evening’s cabaret. There is so much to see, and so much to celebrate. Please join us!

The very emotional aftermath of “Try” on Open Day meant that I neglected the chance to hold a retiring collection for two very important groups that we wanted to support, and I humbly ask for your support here. The first beneficiary is The Imogen Young Trust Fund, a charity that helps support students at Ackworth access extracurricular music and theatre tuition and experiences.

The second is for the author, Rick Wood, himself. Rick is a writer, performer and ex-Drama Teacher. The first production of “Try”was, like this, a student-drama production. Perhaps this experience is why Rick has been so astonishingly generous, supportive and helpful as we worked on our production of “Try”. When he understood how student-led this production was, not only has Rick waived the performance rights to his play, but he has been on hand to (almost instantly) respond to emails and discuss issues about the play, his experiences and his intentions, particularly with Grace. Particularly in the current, tough climate where Arts and Humanities are under increasing political (and I would go so far as to say existential) pressure, Rick’s kindness and generosity cannot go unacknowledged. It is a tough time to be a writer and theatre practitioner right now; the industry really has taken hits over the last few years. Rick deserves some payment for his work.

To that end, please find a Just Giving link below: please could I ask you to consider giving a donation, of any size, to help support the Imogen Young Trust Fund and Rick Wood. Any sum raised will be shared between the two. We recognise that these are difficult times for us all: if you feel you are able to contribute, we are most grateful for the support you have given.

From all of us, thank you. And I hope to see you back in the theatre in September!

In friendship

Ali Boucher, Head of Drama