Page 12 - Malvern Times - Issue 3

MALVERN TIMES Malvern Times
FACILITY FOCUS
12
The Rogers Theatre is the home of the Malvern College Drama department run by Director of Drama, Mr Keith Packham.
After a £3million refurbishment of the main auditorium and the introduction of a new technical gantry level, plus an upgrade of the AV, sound, stage and lighting systems and a flexible staging area and retractable seating, the Rogers Theatre is every bit as impressive as those theatres found in the West End of London. It is a thriving and creative force within the school and provides cultural nourishment to stimulate artistic talents. With seating for 300, and the original balcony curved into an attractive sweep and the sightlines and acoustics improved, the space has hosted some incredible performances. The co-joined Lyall Foyer is a multi- purpose space – drama studio, performance venue, main foyer, meeting room and reception area for pupils, patrons, and visitors.
Malvern Times recently caught up with Mr Packham and asked him to give us a glimpse and dared to ask him about the place the arts and creative subjects have in the digital age.
“The Rogers Theatre and Lyall Foyer is an incredible space. Head downstairs to the basement and there you will find our extensive costume store superbly managed by Heather Fryer, Head of Wardrobe. The in-house stock of costumes – covering a variety of historical periods and styles – is a hugely important resource for the department and is often made available to prep schools requiring additional costume assistance with their own productions. In recent years, costumes constructed for our productions of ‘Grease’, ‘Daisy Pulls It Off’, ‘Sister Act’, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ mean that we possess complete sets for these productions.
The productions we mount aim to provide pupils with a rich variety of dramatic fayre during their time at Malvern College.
Recent Shakespeare productions include ‘Macbeth’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and ‘Henry V’. Contemporary plays such as ‘Earthquakes in London’, ‘Wendy & Peter Pan’, ‘Grimm Tales’, ‘1984’, ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Blue Stockings’ introduce our pupils to the best of new writing for the stage, whilst crowd favourites such as ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ are tremendous fun for all.
As a theatre practitioner first, and secondly a teacher, I believe it is important to expand our pupil’s knowledge by introducing the very latest in contemporary drama and taking them out of their comfort zone by introducing them to something that might just challenge their preconceptions. Most recently, our acclaimed production of ‘Earthquakes in London’ was very satisfying as audiences were inspired by the ecological themes and issues raised by the play.
And yes, in this digital age, where YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, X Boxes, Nintendo Switches and iPad reign supreme, and TV’s Wi-Fi streaming delivers movies straight to our portable devices, it is hardly surprising that we question what place Drama and Theatre has with young people today, and especially within a boarding school environment.
All creative subjects, including the arts and theatre, are undoubtedly the most challenged by the digital age and the collaborative activity it offers young people. Social media and digital technology enable new creative experiences that are spontaneous, unpredictable and take place indoors, outdoors, in public spaces or private places. The participant can choose the time, place and platform to watch television, listen to or make music, or indulge in multi-player online gaming.
The Rogers Theatre Home of the Drama Department