The foresight shown by the Old Boys has been fundamental to the integration of drama as a learning medium at College and has validated the interest in toi whakaari – the performing arts – of literally thousands of boys since it was built. (The OBT and the Gym are the most frequently used buildings in the school during the day, at night, and at weekends.) The wonder of Drama at College is that classes have grown and grown. Now 15–20% of all Year 11, 12 and 13 students take Drama as a timetabled subject. That, and the huge uptake of the new Year 10 option (where 25% of the boys opted in) has put pressure on teaching resources, so we now have a second “reclaimed” drama studio (called the Green Room). This continued development over my 23 years of stewardship has been rewarding and, on this continuing journey, provides an appropriate place to stop. I am thrilled to pass the parcel on to my good friend and esteemed colleague Hannah Clarkson, formerly of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, whom we have worked with on many projects since 2003. Te toi whakairo, ka ihihi, ka wehiwehi, ka aweawe te ao katoa! Artistic excellence makes the world sit up in wonder.
Other stand out performances this year were created by Year 11 students Santino Felitti-Duter, Ollie Jones, Gus Priest and Bruno Vaughan, and Josh Garland, William Jones, Harry Sharr, Angus Thorne and Benji Ward; by Year 12 students Hamish McCulloch, Tim Stewart and Jono Henderson, and Claude Tellick, Josh Jolly and Freddie Sudell; and by Year 13 students Ben Young, Dominic Edmond, Josh Johnston and Tom Jones. The new Year 10 option class in Drama proved to be extremely popular, so much so that we had to create two. Nikki Bleyendaal set it up and ran it, and the boys followed with enthusiasm. The course culminated with a presentation of The Book of Everything , enabling the young practitioners to present on stage in true theatrical style. This Year 10 performance experience has proven, time and again, to be the nursery for our most successful senior productions.
At the end of 2020 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Old Boys’ Theatre (OBT). Thanks to an enormous Old Boys’ fundraising campaign in the 1990s – a philanthropic juggernaut spearheaded by the then Chair of the Board of Governors Julian Holderness (6409), and Derek Banks (6247), Tim de Castro (5571), Tim Herrick (6406) and Colin Batchelor (5825) – and together with Headmaster Robert Zordan, some key thespian Old Boys and architect Sir Miles Warren (5162), we were able to create a functional and integrated performing arts complex. The OBT was opened on 13 October 2000 by Governor-General, The Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM GCMG QSO, in the presence of Sir Miles Warren ONZ KBE, Sam Neill DCNZM OBE (7200), Sir Tim Wallis (6095) and other special guests. It proved a formidable and empowering endorsement of a new direction in College life – and long may it continue.
David Chambers Director of Drama
ENGLISH Yet again, it has been another demanding year for English, with a number of exciting changes taking place. Along with welcoming new staff, we also implemented various programme changes, all while grappling with the intricacies of remote learning. We were very pleased to welcome teacher Claire Nicholson to the department. Claire brings a wealth of experience from a number of diverse teaching contexts. She began her career at Nayland College,
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