Rosie B, Lower 6, reports on her experience of watching the 2026 Outdoor Play, War of the Worlds , below... War of The Worlds was a thrilling and inventive piece blending together an original script by its director Mr Bromley with the Jeff Wayne audio production and the use of puppetry to create visually striking and adventurous outdoor play which took place in the quad at the weekend. When Aliens land in the suburbs of Victorian London, a journalist (Will C) has to traverse the landscape in search of safety from the Aliens and his wife Carrie (Beth S), meeting different people along the way - War of the Worlds is an exploration of the various different responses people have to crises. The cast of eccentric characters included The Priest (Tom H) who is driven insane trying to dispel the “demons” which have landed, his wife Beth (Ella B) who tries to pretend that this is fine, a Rich Woman (Sophie M): “I pay my taxes, this will all be over soon enough”, Carrie’s father (Hal N) who wants to stay at home and stay by the grave of his wife and The Artilleryman (Charlie B), a utopianist hoping to start a brand new society… ‘where’ you ask? “Underground!” A definite shoutout is required for the two Paperboys from Lower 5, Joseph H and Archie W who managed to hold their own incredibly in a cast of Sixth Formers, playing the role on alternate days brilliantly. Additionally, the backstage crew and Martian puppeteers Naomi W, Daisy S, Jude D and Pearl L were integral to the running of the play, working professionally and tirelessly to stun the audience with aliens made by Mr Bromley and Miss Wright. I played Professor Ogilvy, the astronomer holding claim to fame as the first death of the play (Page 9!), spending quite a lot of time offstage meant I got a chance to watch this incredible cast perform multiple times- they should all be proud of their amazing performances! 

Rosie B, Lower 6, reports on her experience of watching the 2026 Inters Musical, High School Musical Jr. , below... Another Lower 6 Independent project took to the stage this week as the cast of High School Musical Jr “bopped to the top”! Directed by Lev O and Louis B, the talented fifth form cast gave it their all and absolutely delivered. This was a high energy production with brilliant choreography by Zara M - standout numbers like Stick to the Status Quo and We’re All in This Together even had the audience clapping and dancing along! Dancing with basketballs proved no easy feat but they all rose to the challenge. Rory S and Evie A as Troy and Gabriella were excellent protagonists to this energising musical and heartfelt numbers like Start of Something New showed the pair’s incredible vocal abilities. Additionally, Abi B as Sharpay and Archie W as Ryan were a comedic tour-de-force as the two divas of the East High Drama Department. Other brilliant performances included Jimmy K as Chad, Lucy P as Taylor, Noah B, Isis G and so many more! This show was uplifting and breathtaking (for the cast and the audience I imagine). It also marks the third and final pupil-directed Independent Project piece of the year: The Revolting Teens of Sherwood in April by Ella B, Oliver! Jr by Daisy S and Charlie B and High School Musical Jr by Lev O and Louis B have all been amazing experiences for their directors, giving the drama pupils at Norwich School the opportunity to take the reins and create their own fabulous productions.