Arts Week

I know thousands of you have been utterly devastated at the lack of posts here this week. I’ve been working in my old school on a thing they call Arts Week – it’s pretty much what it says on the tin. The whole school was divided up into little groups and given various Art based projects. I was involved in a few of the more Drama-ish projects.

The year 9’s were given the task of making a film, fortunately they were given a pretty good script (based on Woody Allen play Death, later made into film Shadows and Fog), a very good director (Michael Buffong) and some state of the art filming equipment. Another teacher involved in the film; behind and in front of the cameras was multi talented Ben Ackland – who is a good actor and also has a band called AGK who are very cool and have some good tunes. He was my English teacher for my first two years at Hampstead and my head of year until year 11, he’s a great man.

So in this film project I was mostly running errands or moving lights or telling kids to shut up, but on the last day someone didn’t turn up so I actually ended up playing the part of a relaxed homicidal killer; stabbing a small child – but all in a very comedic way.

I also helped out a bit with a Cabaret taking place on the Thursday evening, there were various dances, comedic sketches and musical performances taking place throughout the evening.

I directed a small group of kids on a comedy sketch about rivalry between Geography and History teachers ending in a break-dancing clash!

Little brother Dylan was involved in another sketch about teachers, where they try to ‘get down with the kids’.

Another project I dipped into was the making of a radio play, this scheme was fronted by acclaimed playwright Nick Grosso and Creative Learning Practitioner at Hampstead Theatre Debra Glazer. An Archers style drama, set in a small country town. It was to be broadcast on the school’s new podcasting station Switch FM but thus far I haven’t spotted it. I did some narration for them, which was fun.

The last big events of the week took place on the Friday night, there was an Open Air Festival / Rock Concert type thing – called ‘LiveStock’, they also had Ibiza – an entire beach was made (!), there was a traditional Garden Fete and also some Exhibitions documenting the weeks events. During the LiveStock event lots of kiddy rock bands had their moments, but some pretty good music came from Nimmo and The Gauntletts a great band with some pretty good prospects. I have shared classes with Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett of the band, so it would be especially cool to see them go somewhere.

The entire week was more or less held together by amazen teacher Sian Morrison; my Drama teacher for a good few years, (and a Welshie) who is sadly leaving Hampstead School for good! Don’t know what the school will do without her.

Anyway, it was a pretty good week – and all good fun, if not slightly stressful at times.