Bryanston has long been internationally recognised for its dedication to the arts. It is renowned for its creative approach to education, encouraging originality, artistic skill and a collaborative spirit. Central to its ethos is the cultivation of imagination, independent thought, self-reliance and adaptability.
Mentoring is integral to Bryanston’s educational offering, particularly within the performing arts programme. Upon joining the school, all pupils are given a tutor based on information gathered by the admissions team. This ensures each pupil is paired with a tutor aligned with their interests and they remain with them throughout their time at the school, meeting one-to-one at least weekly.
Performing arts scholars receive additional mentorship from the performing arts department, meeting twice a term to set and review their goals.
Pupil-led initiatives and events
Each term features numerous pupil-led events within the performing arts department. One of those is BUZZ, an evening where scholars invite friends to showcase their performances and choreography, and then receive feedback from staff and peers.
Another highlight is the annual Year 12 (A3) Festival, a traditional event set up 25 years ago. The festival features seven pupil-directed productions performed over a weekend, alongside pop-up bands and acoustic performances. It culminates in a dress-up parade where the entire year group parade around the front of the school.
BryFest – a platform for diverse talents
The Bryanston Festival, or BryFest, is a week-long creative arts event held in the last week of the summer term. It involves the entire school community, including pupils, parents, staff and the local community. This programme capitalises on the many skillsets of pupils in performing arts, shining a spotlight on pupil directed productions. We adopt a more celebratory format to maximise engagement throughout the school community and to provide new challenges and real-life experiences for the pupils themselves.
BryFest offers a major performance platform not only for drama, music, film and dance pupils, but also the skills of those skilled in choreography, technical and dramatic direction, lighting and stage management and design. The festival features a diverse range of performances, including drama, classical and rock band shows, dance performances, film screenings, social events and DJ sets.
This year’s BryFest highlights included the end of term dance performance, ‘A Night with the Stars’, featuring dancers from all year groups and styles to bring an evening of dance and live music. A collection of group and solo performances, demonstrating the talent of our pupils as well as their hard work and dedication to dance, come together in a wonderful end of year performance.
In drama, older pupils performed impressively in “The End” play, while younger pupils took part in an outdoor promenade performance of a selection of the Grimm Brothers’ traditional folk and fairy tales. The BryFilm group presented a collection of pupil-made short films, which were broadcast on the big screen in the school theatre.
The power of mentoring
There is no better way to motivate and inspire youngsters than through the wisdom and experience of others. We are fortunate to have a network of OBs who are experienced in their fields, particularly in creative and performing arts. Their mentoring is invaluable to those wishing to pursue careers in competitive industries. The school’s motto, ‘et nova et vetera’ (the best of new and old), encapsulates the relationship between current pupils and OBs eager to give back and support pupils in their development.
This year, Bryanston formed its first Arts Advisory Board, comprised entirely of OBs, bringing talent, knowledge and experience, that unlock myriad opportunities for our pupils, especially those aspiring to careers in the highly competitive and challenging arts industry.
Notable board members include Mark Wigglesworth, an internationally recognised conductor; Emilia Fox, one of England’s most recognisable actresses; Jake Gosling, an award-winning English music producer, songwriter and publisher; Matthew Clyde, a managing executive producer at RiffRaff US; Kate Rothschild, a former record producer and Head of UK Operations for Roc Nation; and Francesca Gardiner, an award-winning writer and executive producer.
When mentoring is woven into the fabric of a pupil’s journey from one-to-one tutoring and pupil-led opportunities to whole-school and community initiatives, supported by the expertise and guidance of the OB community, it inspires young people to pursue their passions, particularly in the performing arts. It encourages collaboration, enabling pupils to learn from one another while expressing their individuality.
The expertise and guidance kindly offered from the OB community here at Bryanston, particularly through the new Arts Advisory Board, enriches the pupil experience, helping young people navigate their path into the performing arts, a highly competitive industry.
Vicki Green,
Director of Performing Arts
This article was published in the September 2024 edition of Independent Schools Magazine.
