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We understand and champion dancing as a medium that improves students’ health and fitness, as well as technical, expressive and creative skills. Dance is a popular subject for both boys and girls.

All students, regardless of ability, are welcome to join the in-house dance companies and take part in the various performances presented throughout the year. These include the annual Dance Showcase, dance sharing, choreographic collaborative projects, dance platforms and festivals.

Exams

We provide the opportunity for our dancers to undertake Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet examinations.

Our first cohort of dancers to take their exams last year all achieved the highest classification of Distinction.

Drama is for everyone at Hurst, students can perform, work backstage, operate the lighting and sound system, or design and create scenery. Members of the Sixth Form have the opportunity to run certain aspects of the productions produced at Hurst.

LAMDA examinations

Students can study for London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) exams under the supervision of our specialist teaching team.

Clubs

Co-curricular opportunities offered by the Drama department are extensive with Drama Clubs in the form of rehearsals for the many productions on offer. We have the oldest school Shakespeare Society in the country and at least one major Shakespeare production is performed each year.

Sixth Form students are encouraged to take the initiative in managing and directing their own productions, which many do as part of their EPQ (extended project qualification).

Throughout the year, professional masterclasses are run for a variety of year groups, as well as a bespoke training programme for those looking to go into the performing industry. The Hurst Stage is one of the most popular theatre summer schools in the region, in which current students and children from the local community take part in a week of training and workshops culminating in a performance on the last day.

Performances

Our Drama department stages more than 20 productions each academic year, which range from large-scale musicals with a professional orchestra, to small-scale scripted and devised plays.

All of our productions offer students the opportunity to act, provide technical support or direct. Recent musicals have included:

• Phantom of the Opera
• Cabaret
• Sweeney Todd

Drama productions are held in our New Bury Theatre, as well as the Drama Studio. Occasionally Hurst productions are also taken off-site and on tour.

House Film Competition

In the Lent term, the Drama department organises a House Film Competition, where students work with those in their house to write, direct and film an original screenplay under the supervision of industry professionals. This is one of the highlights of the school year.

The Music department is an extremely busy one. Concerts take place throughout the year in a wide variety of locations both in and beyond the college. Learning an instrument provides students with an opportunity to express themselves, and some go on to play in an instrumental group. Other students prefer to contribute towards congregational hymn singing in Chapel or enjoy singing the lead role in a school production. However, all students of all abilities are encouraged to take part and enjoy themselves. Music at Hurst is an inclusive and welcoming activity and everyone is encouraged to take part in something, no matter what their ability.

More than 200 students in the Senior School and Sixth Form take individual singing or instrumental lessons. Our Music department offers groups that include a Choir of 140 students, Chamber Choir of 25 students, School Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, Quartets, String group and various ensembles focusing on different instrumental disciplines. 

Instrumental and vocal groups

Year on year, the Music department adapts the instrumental and vocal groups that are on offer, taking into account the strengths and interests of the students. Classical musicians can play in the orchestra, one of the many instrumental groups which focus on particular disciplines, as part of a chamber group, or even form their own instrumental groups. The department runs a strong Jazz Band which performs regularly at public concerts in the local area, and the Hurst Rockers play throughout the year around the local area and beyond.

Singers have just as many opportunities: they can sing in the 140-strong Chapel Choir; audition for and sing in the Chamber Choir; front one of the college’s rock bands; sing in the annual college musical or contribute to the annual House Music competition, which takes place in front of the entire school.

Concerts

Instrumental and vocal music is heard and performed throughout the campus and there are many opportunities for musicians of all standards to perform. The Music School plays host to a number of Jazz and Rock concerts and many of our musicians are frequently invited by the public to perform outside of school. The choir sings at the weekly Chapel services and the Choral Society perform in the college Chapel and attract large audiences from across Sussex.

In the Music School itself, performances include termly concerts for both soloists and ensembles, a Scholars’ Concert, the Annual Solo Music Competition, Hurst Unplugged (acoustic pop and rock concert with a focus on songwriters), Hurst ‘n’ Brie outdoor concert, Jazz and Rock Concert and a House Music competition. Hurst Music also stage community performances as part of the Hurstpierpoint Arts Festival and the Choral Evensong at Southwark Cathedral.