On Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December, a cast of Inters pupils put on a brilliant production of Piers Torday’s ‘The Box of Delights’. The pupils took to the stage with confidence and enthusiasm, encouraged with a message from Piers Torday himself - I’m so thrilled you have chosen to stage my adaptation of John Masefield’s wonderful Christmas story, and I hope you have all enjoyed getting it to the stage.” The Blake was set out differently in this instance, with the production employing traverse staging, which allowed for an immersive performance in which all cast members were always present. This worked wonderfully in addition to the stylised ensemble pieces and physical theatre throughout the piece, the cast became a company. This Christmas tale was brought to life with great skill, particularly through the characterisation and dynamic between protagonist and antagonist – Cole Hawkings and Abner Brown. Kay Harker, played by Rowan Kidd, compellingly led the story and engaged audiences throughout, supported brilliantly by Christina Sawh and Alejandro Olmo Ochoa who played Maria and Peter respectively. Of course, the performance’s success must be attributed to every cast member, all pupils performed with professionalism and finesse. Director, Eva Wright, commented; “I am immensely proud of the cast for their dedication and trust in the creative process. Their collaborative spirit was key to solving the challenges of bringing this play filled with magic, and the seemingly impossible, to life in the Blake Studio.”

The Junior Dance Festival and Choreography Competition 2025 was a spectacular evening that brought together 93 pupils across the lower and senior school, celebrating the remarkable creativity and dedication of our young performers. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this hybrid event, which combined the performance platforms of both the Junior Dance Festival and the Choreography Competition. The night showcased a stunning mix of student-led choreography alongside pieces from our co-curricular dance programme, highlighting the exceptional talents of pupils across the fourth and fifth form. The evening was a true celebration of collaboration. Student-led work featured a diverse range of ensemble and solo performances from the Junior and Inter year groups, demonstrating their creativity, growing artistic confidence, and passion for dance. Alongside these, co-curricular pieces reflected the hard work and skills developed through our wider dance programme, including external workshop opportunities led by industry professionals which enriched the evening with variety and depth. A panel of external judges marked pupils on creativity, performance, and technical skill, with one group in each section crowned as the Choreographic Champions 2025. The judging process and audiences support added an extra spark of excitement to the night. We would like to extend our best wishes to all participants. Their dedication to the creative process and commitment to excellence have been truly inspiring, and it was a delight to share their successes enthusiasm and passion for the performing arts. Winners Juniors – 158 points: Panic Room - Santiago O’Dwyer, Sarah Lashmore-Davies, Florence Humphrey, Edie Hopkins Inters – 174 points: Constellations - Molly Martin Highly Commended Juniors – 156 points: The Other Side of Me - Emily Slinger Inters – 172 points: Corrupt Carnival - Ava Webb & Jennifer Mardle Commended Juniors – 150 points: Missing You - Lotte Lalchan-Woods & Holly Rose Hart Inters – 169 points: Uptown Funk - Amelia Nundy & Nola Woodeson Congratulations to all pupils for their outstanding performances. It truly was a night to remember!