Drama Enrichment Students Explore Emma Rice’s Blue Beard

Last week Drama Scholars and participants from our Enrichment Programme were given the opportunity to explore a brand-new play, Emma Rice’s Blue Beard, recently staged at Battersea Arts Centre in London.   

This opportunity was broken into two parts, a seminar style session on Tuesday followed by a practical workshop on the Wednesday. Year 10 Enrichment participant, Lexi, was keen to share their thoughts about this unique opportunity. 

Year 10’s Lexi 

During the Blue Beard seminar last Tuesday, led by our Drama Graduate Issy, I was able to share my own thoughts as well as hear from others in different year groups – both younger and older – who had their own opinions about the play.  

The seminar was very beneficial, as I learned more about the play itself, its context, and the director Emma Rice.  

When attending the following workshop, led by external facilitator Jordana Golbourn, we learned new skills, such as different ways to start devising from a stimulus. We also tapped into methods discussed during the seminar, for example disguising unnerving dialogue in an upbeat way – something that Emma Rice did throughout Blue Beard.  

There were many takeaways from this amazing experience, that I will be using for years to come, and it was something that I was very grateful to attend.