Frantic Assembly, a theatre company that has world-wide acclaim, ran workshops at John Kyrle High School, in Ross-on-Wye, on Thursday, November 17th, for students in years 11, 12 and 13.

Jo Lucas, head of Drama at John Kyrle High School, organised the workshops. She had worked with some of the Frantic Assembly actors when she did her Masters Degree. Mrs Lucas told the Gazette: “They really are at the top of their game.”

She added that Frantic Assembly’s expertise is physical theatre. Professional actor, Steve Miller ran many masterclasses throughout the day, to help the students develop their theatrical performances.

Mrs Lucas said that these lessons would be particularly beneficial to the students when they come to work on their devised pieces for exams in the sixth form.

In the devised pieces, the students are asked to base their work on current theatre practitioners, and Mrs Lucas explained that not only can they draw inspiration from Frantic Assembly, having one of the company’s actors mentor them for the day would be invaluable experience.

Mr Miller told the Gazette that he had been teaching skills and techniques to the students in physical language, which had said was crucial to create theatre. He added:?“There’s been a really nice mix of variety and ability, and always high enthusiasm.”

Mrs?Lucas said that it had been interesting to watch the students develop throughout the day; pupils in different year groups had got to know each other better and work together more closely, and the workshops had been an ideal opportunity for team building.