PUPILS, parents and staff at King’s Ely took part in the first in a series of acting masterclasses led by some of the UK’s most acclaimed practitioners this week.

With classes in improvisation, puppetry, stage combat and musical theatre, the workshops have been designed to develop a variety of different acting skills. Many of those who have signed up for the free workshops include GCSE and A Level Drama students looking to further develop their skills outside of the classroom.

Nick Huntington, Director of Drama and Theatre, commented: “As many of our pupils intend to go on and audition for drama schools, we equip them with many different skills, face them with all kinds of challenges and introduce them to as many industry professionals as possible. The acting masterclass is a vital part of that preparation. For others, it’s just a huge amount of fun!”

The first masterclass was run by acclaimed National Theatre director Adam Penford. Adam, who trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), directed the first London revival of Ayckbourn’s A Small Family Business at the National Theatre in 2014 as well as directing the revival of One Man Two Guvnors on the West End, Broadway and the current national tour.

Adam added: “The students were really talented and enthusiastic. I was impressed by how willing they were to throw themselves into the work and support one another. It’s clear they have a bright future ahead of them and I look forward to seeing some of them working in the performing arts industry in years to come.”

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