Year 10s explore bold, physical theatre with Artaudian performances

Our Year 10 students have been working incredibly hard this term, developing powerful and imaginative Artaudian performances inspired by the children’s nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock.” They have found this work hugely engaging, relishing the opportunity to push creative boundaries and explore theatre in a way that feels bold, physical and immersive.

Through their practitioner study of Antonin Artaud, students have experimented with a wide range of techniques, including stylised and ritualistic movement, startling vocal work, symbolic use of sound, heightened physicality, non-linear structure, and the creation of intense sensory environments. They have embraced ensemble work, repetition, exaggerated gesture and dramatic shifts in tempo to fully immerse their audiences in the experience.

This deep dive into Artaud has been instrumental in broadening their wider understanding of theatre – its styles, forms, and the many ways performance can communicate beyond words. By transforming a simple nursery rhyme into something abstract, visceral and thought-provoking, Year 10 have demonstrated remarkable creativity, commitment and maturity.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and their adventurous approach to theatre-making this term.