Year 8 students at St George’s International School recently staged their own interpretations of Shakespeare’s  (Photo : St George’s International School)

Year 8 students at St George’s International School recently staged their own interpretations of Shakespeare’s  (Photo : St George’s International School)

Students at St George’s International School have relished the opportunity to be back on stage performing for audiences of parents and fellow students.

With visitors restricted and other activities limited, many stage shows and music recitals have been online or cancelled, leaving few opportunities for parents to come into school to celebrate the children’s achievements.

Primary and Secondary students at St George’s have now been able to perform live to audiences, utilizing the CovidCheck system, bringing a sense of togetherness and accomplishment that has been hard to replicate virtually. The benefits have been more than academic, with many positive emotional and social advantages too.

For students, the experience of being back in front of an audience has been “amazing”, said Ms Warren, lead teacher for Mile Post 3 (Years 5 and 6). “Many of us were perhaps not aware of how much we had missed it. The pure joy from the students and audience was quite something.”

Secondary drama teacher and head of Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9), Ms Williams, said returning to the stage had been a little scary for some, but each student who performed felt an enormous sense of achievement. “Our Year 8 students recently performed pieces of Shakespeare and were more excited than any group I have ever taught,” Ms Williams said.

Performing is an important part of the curriculum for all year groups at St George’s, helping to develop confidence, resilience, problem solving, teamwork and presentation skills that will serve students well in the future.

“It is important for our students to have experiences presenting and performing in school because as they progress into further education and work, there will be times when they need to be able to present ideas with confidence, sometimes to a larger audience, even if it is over Zoom. If they gain these skills in school then they are well set for the real world,” Ms Williams said.

“There is also a sense of togetherness when teachers and parents come together to celebrate young people, and this can inspire students to work hard. The power of community created by performance cannot be underestimated in terms of nurturing positive mental health and wellbeing.”

Ms Warren said the return to live performances had helped students to release anxieties and express themselves creatively. “In our current climate, many students are naturally concerned about world events. We have seen nervous students completely transform into natural performers on stage,” she explained.

While it is difficult to predict how things will evolve over the coming months, the performing arts will remain an important part of St George’s curriculum.

“Our school curriculum is broad, varied and creative, and we try to reflect this in the productions we give. Many of our performances honour different cultures and festivals that are celebrated by our diverse school community,” Ms Warren said. “We greatly value creativity and the arts, and feel strongly that they bring learning to life. Our students love the opportunity to showcase their talents, work collaboratively and express themselves. As teachers it is wonderful to see them shine.”

St George’s International School is an inclusive, vibrant international community of 860 students aged from 3 years to 18+ years, representing over 60 nationalities. This rich diversity provides a unique and exciting learning environment where strong values are nurtured based on mutual understanding and respect. For more information,

Year 8 students at St George’s International School recently staged their own interpretations of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The return to live audiences has been welcomed by students, teachers and families. Photo credit: St George’s International School.