Students at Regents International School Pattaya can look forward to a busy term of Music and Drama events. To kick off the season, Secondary students were treated to a special performance on Friday 29th March. The UK based Splendid Theatre Company visited the school and performed their version of Homer’s “The Odyssey”, adapted by Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales. The play, which featured plenty of audience interaction, was a hilarious comedic take on the old classic staged in the school’s own Globe Theatre. It was well received by students from Year 9 upwards, who also had an opportunity to talk to the actors, and to take part in a professional theatre workshop with the company.
“It was not only amusing and unique but also had a moral for us, something we all could relate to; obstacles. The play raised many questions, such as ‘How to overcome our obstacles in life?’ and left us mesmerised. Overall it was a remarkable experience,” said Charu, one of the students who watched the performance.
Secondary Music Recitals began with some singing on May 6th, and guitar students the following Friday.
Another student, Subhi, commented, “It was an opportunity of a lifetime to witness and learn from people who loved their jobs and I was definitely inspired by the passion they had for drama.”
Other students also descried the performance and workshop as “exciting, eye opening and inspirational.”
The calendar of arts events included Friday 6th May which saw the first in a series of music recitals for Secondary instrumental students. Singing students, led by their dedicated vocal teacher Ms June delivered stellar performances and they sung renditions of popular songs including ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘Popular’.
Mr Thomas, who was in the audience said, “There were so many stand-out performances. It takes a lot of courage to sing on stage and, really, all who took part were winners.”
Enthusiastic students took part in Drama workshops led by members of Splendid Productions.
This was followed by a guitar recital on Friday 13th, which was also well supported.
The next few weeks will feature more recitals, and as usual parents and fellow students are invited to support the young musicians each week.
The free concerts do not stop there, however, with yet another Juilliard Alumnus visit planned on Monday 16th May featuring Benjamin Moermond, the principal bassoonist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. And finally, to mark the 400th anniversary of his death, an upbeat production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest – devised with Key Stage 3 students and staged in the primary school playground on Wednesday 18th May.
“There is an atmosphere of festive creativity about campus, rehearsals and practices are going on throughout the day. As always we hope we can use the arts to inspire our students to do their very best and apply themselves, especially during this busy exam term,” commented school Principal Iain Blaikie.
Details of these and other upcoming events can be found on the school’s Facebook pages. For more information about the Juilliard collaboration, please contact the school on +66 (0) 38 418 777 or visit the school’s website on http://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/pattaya.
