March 11, 2024 - 414 views
Rydal Penrhos pupils recently participated in a lighting and sound workshop at Theatre Clwyd.
From the very first school productions – like 1897’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ – to the recent musical spectacular of ‘Grease’, Rydal Penrhos pupils have always dazzled audiences with their on-stage heroics.
However, none of these memorable theatrical events would have been possible without the efforts of an excellent behind-the-scenes team.
The workshop was as part of BBC’s nationwide Bring the Drama Festival, which aims to open up the doors to the next generation of behind-the-scenes talent.
Led by Theatre Clwyd’s Head of Production, Hannah Lobb, a group of Rydal Penrhos theatre enthusiasts learned about what it takes to deliver world-class theatre, with pupils introduced to the many skilled and talented teams that make a show happen at Theatre Clwyd.
Lighting and sound design play a huge role in any dramatic production and as part of the workshops pupils were given a masterclass in how exceptional light and sound is delivered on the Theatre Clwyd stage.
Pupils got access to see up close the mixing console, featuring 72 separate channels of audio that can be individually adjusted, as well as the traditional stage lights used by the theatre, prior to the introduction of new LEDs.
Year 10 pupil Callum Thompson, who has played an instrumental role in supporting the behind-the-scenes operation of Rydal Penrhos drama productions over recent years, said “I found it quite helpful seeing how it all happens. It was eye-opening and I learned things that I would not necessarily learn at another theatre, let alone in a school.”
