In Lent Term 2020, pupils were invited to write and submit an original 10 Minute Play for their House. The play scripts were judged for their theatrical potential by local playwright James McDermott. As the groups were about to move from page to stage, we experienced the first national lockdown. Undeterred our playwrights made audio recordings of their plays and awaited the moment when they could return to the rehearsal room. The work, which ranged from black comedy to domestic drama, could not fail to impress. We were looking forward to seeing the plays up on their feet in the Michaelmas term, but with the bubbles and challenges of social distancing a performance with anything but a minimal cast looked impossible. Impressively one group, Tallis, were determined to realise their vision against all the odds and made it to the stage in October. We had hoped to formally announce the winners alongside the premiere of A Streak of Disastrous Incidents to a socially distanced audience but in the end this was captured on camera. The winners will receive the ‘Not An Oscar’ cup when we finally return to School and we hope that we can share the performance on the Auden Big Screen to celebrate.

Best Play went to Dead Man’s Words– a highly original, quirky, black comedy. Congratulations to Emma Colby of Edinburgh and Anna Paytner-Smith of Queens.  

Best Production went to writer and director Emil Schwaerzler and Anton Lucas of Tallis for their thoughtful production A Streak of Disastrous Incidents. A strong piece produced in the Michaelmas term under exceptionally trying circumstances 

10 MINUTE PLAY COMPETITION -WINNERS

Edinburgh and Queens a joint venture Dead Man’s Words. Written by Emma Colby and Anna Paytner- Smith

Farfield For Better Times Written by Ben Hunt and Johnny Derbyshire

Howsons A Play About The Planet Written by Joseph Oxtoby

Oakeley The Ten Minute Play Written by Georgie Clarke and Emily Larner

Tallis A Streak of Disastrous Incidents Written by Emil Schwaerzler and Anton Lucas in performance joined by William Braithwaite, Spike Cook, Joseph Grady, Leo Kemp, Tavi Presslee, Lucas Triffit and Laura Zuehlsdorff

Woodlands Separate Ways Written by Louis Summons and George Light