Writes Cheryl Clarke, Director of Drama, Rishi K. and Ethan D. (4ths)
Following a busy Autumn Term with the Senior Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and the House Drama Competition, this term sees many of our younger Actors take centre stage in the Co-Curricular Drama rehearsal room. Two of our Fourth Form cast who also take Drama on the curriculum share their experience of early rehearsals and what they are most looking forward to.
Rishi K. and Ethan D. write:
This play follows Tommo, a soldier in the First World War, and the whole play is in the form of dramatic monologue. The play is being produced in such a way that each actor delivers a different section of this monologue, which allows everyone to have their moment in the spotlight.
Rishi: I’ve enjoyed working with Merchant Taylors’ on Junior Plays and am looking forward to this one before moving up to Middle School. I’ve also very much enjoyed participating in House Drama. I just love that Drama is a subject that allows me to express myself in so many ways, whether that be showing emotion and/or comedy. My role in this play is very much a serious one, and I’m looking forward to the World War One setting as a contrast to the previous lighter roles I’ve taken on in past plays. It should be a learning opportunity in which I expand my range of skills in Drama.
Ethan D: I have always loved Drama as a subject and have been involved in productions before. Additionally, I took part in House Drama this year. I am extremely excited for the Junior Play because, since I joined Taylors’ in Year 9, this production is my first one here. I am very fond of this specific production already, as every cast member has their moment, which I think is particularly important since this play is the first play at Taylors’ for many of the students. My role in this play is intriguing because, like many other cast members, I play multiple characters, which I think will provide me with a real challenge.
The first few weeks of rehearsal have served as a way of meeting each other and understanding the play together. Learning the story of the play has been a great way to get to know one another, and we’ve also done this through Drama games and exercises.
Before the holidays, we were given our scripts and guidelines as to how the process of the Junior Play works. We were instructed to learn a short piece of our monologue to perform to the group once we got back, and this was a great way to get to know the play. As we watched the monologues, we were able to start to understand the story. We also received feedback from the teachers and peers on aspects including projection and ways in which to convey emotion.
Furthermore, a couple of other rehearsals so far have focused on the chorus sections in the play. Synchronisation is vital to provide the desired effects. They have been quite complex and involve difficult movement, but also delightful since they are moments in which everyone in the cast is on stage together.
An Introduction to the National Youth Theatre
Over the last few years, ten boys at Merchant Taylors’ have gained places in the prestigious National Youth Theatre.
This week, David A, U6, led a session with some of our Lower & Middle School Drama Scholars and other interested Drama students. He successfully auditioned for the company last year and took part in their summer programme. At school, David most recently performed a lead role in the November 2025 Joint School Production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and wrote, directed, and performed in the winning 2025 House Drama Competition the previous month.
Here is what David had to say about his time at the NYT Summer camp:
‘Getting into the National Youth Theatre meant so much to me at the time, I didn’t really understand yet what the intake course would be like. It was about working together with people, about meeting 30 strangers and at the end of two weeks, feeling confident enough in yourself to express your voice. It was obviously about acting, learning skills and developing them in a near professional environment, but more than anything it is a group of people who like acting, musical theatre, dance, music – performing – meeting each other, inspiring each other.’
David spoke about to the Taylors’ boys about choosing an audition piece, advice for audition self-tapes and his experience of the summer camp itself. The boys attending from Lower and Middle School asked some great questions and there were also useful tips for the boys to take on board when auditioning for upcoming productions.
Thanks, David, for an inspiring session.
