As we launch a new decade of Hurst Stage this year, with a focus on process over product, our aim has been to engage pupils in exploring a broad range of skills and disciplines, rather than concentrating solely on staging a single show. No pupil was ‘left behind’ thanks to our immersive schedule of performance masterclasses. As well as five core classes, pupils were treated to a superb stage combat class, lessons in stage-effects make-up, and there was an opportunity to take part in an additional technical session in our theatre, which proved so popular that we needed to run it for an entire day.
The theme this year was Protest. Every historical period has its challenges, but current world events are leaving many of us feeling particularly powerless and anxious, especially young people. The arts are a safe place to express our feelings and make our voices heard. Hurst Stage facilitated this freedom through a range of different ’protests’ showcased in our musical and dance numbers performed during our celebration afternoon.
The collaborative nature and themed focus of the week reminds us that we are not alone and that the future, our future, is alterable.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support of Hurst Stage, and most of all, thank the students, who were exceptionally engaged, polite, amusing, highly creative, and fantastic to work with. They had just a few short hours to prepare each piece for our end-of-week celebration, and we were genuinely blown away by the effort and energy they put in. With pupils coming from more than fifteen different schools and colleges to attend the Hurst Stage week, there were many new friendships formed, skills learnt, and memories made.
