Arts Week

This week we have been celebrating Arts week at Katherine Warington School. There have been a number of activities including an Art Exhibition, and a Music, Drama and Dance festival where over 60 students performed in front of our guest adjudicators – Siobhan Cha Cha and Vaneeka Dhadria winning points for their house as well as receiving feedback from the adjudicators.

Arts Awards

Thursday saw our inaugural Arts Award evening. Over three hundred parents and students were hosted by Adele James (Netflix’s Queen Cleopatra, BBC Casualty) and celebrated students achievements in Art, Music, Drama and Dance throughout the course of the year. With over 200 nominations and performances by the orchestra, Dance troupe and soloists, it really was a highlight of the year.

Music Festival

This Saturday sees the climax of our Arts Week with a music festival taking place in the school grounds featuring our own Sam Clift, DJ Sets from Year 10 students Jahleel and Michael, as well as Harpenden’s own India Arkin and a range of hand curated bands tipped for success in 2023.

There are family activities, the Katherine Warington School Association of Friends, food stalls and a bar, as well as a range of craft stalls by both students and local businesses.

Tickets are still available in advance and KWS parents can get a discount of 50% on tickets by using the code ‘live23’ at the checkout. Full details can be found at www.harpenden-live.com

Activities Week

As part of activities week, 72 Performing Arts students took part in a 4 day residential based at the LSE’s Bankside Hall of residence.

As part of the week, students saw four shows, including West End classics such as Phantom of the Opera and the Lion King, the new show Mrs Doubtfire as well as an afternoon performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Comedy of Errors’ at the Globe Theatre.

As well as performances, students also had workshops with the creative team involved with the show. Andy York from Phantom led a workshop on the singing and choreography from ‘Masquerade’, Ellie Mitchell from Mrs Doubtfire on choreographing the opening number from the show, including a visit from the show’s Associate Choreographer Lisa Mathieson.

The following day saw the fight director from the Comedy of Errors direct a fascinating workshop on stage combat with our students and the day finished with a workshop on ‘Be Prepared’ from Lion King with a former member of the cast.

Mr Bullock