Performing Poetry

Some Year 11 students had the exciting opportunity to visit Chichester Festival Theatre for Performing Poetry, a morning of live poetry readings. The event featured a range of actors currently based at Chichester Festival Threatre who performed a selection of poems from the GCSE anthology, giving students the chance to experience poetry as it was meant to be heard — spoken aloud with rhythm, emotion, and energy. The performances brought to life many of the themes Year 11 have been studying in English, and the performances were also assisted by feedback and advice from an AQA examiner.

Students were particularly inspired by the variety of voices and styles on display, with the performance of 'Remains' being particularly poignant and emotional. Overall, it was a memorable and enjoyable trip that not only supported their learning, but also encouraged everyone to think about poetry in new and exciting ways, and showed the importance of hearing poetry being performed out loud, as it was intended!

Keith Allman, 2nd in charge of English