Arts

Art, drama and music play important roles in school life. In addition to taking scheduled classes, students are encouraged to explore their personal creativity for its own sake. Whereas the fine arts (painting, pottery, photography) foster the pursuit of individual excellence, the performing arts (drama, music, dance) also stress the importance of ensemble work.

 

The fruits of innate talent and technical discipline are seen each year in major concerts, two full-scale theatre productions and International Day. These events involve most of the student body in either the artistic or the technical aspects of performance, and the spacious auditorium has been the scene of many memorable events.

 

Full-time staff and visiting tutors give instruction on a wide range of vocal and instrumental music, catering to beginners as well as more advanced players.

 

 

 

After school activities include a school choir, orchestra, art club, craft club, and drama. Students not only take part on stage with the drama productions, but also help direct, and work back stage with set design, lighting, costumes, make up and props.

 

 

The Choir performance tour in 2010 was to Vienna, Austria, where the students performed seven concerts in four days.  The venues included St Stephen’s Cathedral, St Peter’s Church and a recital at the United Nations building at the Vienna International Centre.

 

 

 

Marymount International School London students take part in The International Schools’ Theatre Association (ISTA) Drama Festivals each year. In 2009-2010, students attended Festivals in Switzerland and the Czech Republic, and in 2008-2009, students took part in the Festival at ASL in London. IB DP students also take part in an annual Theatre Arts Symposium in Cardiff.

 

Marymount was proud to host the ISTA Festival in January 2008, and hosted students from eight International schools around Europe.   Students in the festival took part in master classes, cultural experiences and social activities, and visiting artists from around the world lead the workshops throughout the weekend. The overarching theme was Masks and students were involved in Mask, Physical Theatre and Puppetry making workshops. The weekend’s focus was on collaboration and followed a non-competitive ensemble approach. The students’ work culminated in a Festival Performance at the end of the three days.

 

When asked about the best part of the programme, a student from the International School of Geneva said “The best part is that you get to be yourself." Another student added: "You develop confidence and take part in different types of theatre, like in the Commedia dell’Arte performance.” Students from Marymount International School were delighted to host the visiting students, saying “it’s great to meet students from around the world.” The clowning workshop was also praised, the students noting “You had to abandon all inhibitions, you had no choice but to get in the middle of the stage and perform.”

 

Marymount International School London was honored to host this festival, providing the students with the opportunity to collaborate with other young people from different countries, exchange ideas and cultural perspectives while developing new theatre skills.