Dominic and Arthur (both Year 13) are heavily involved with Drama at Eton, from studying it at A Level, directing their own play, to excelling in their behind-the-scenes roles. Arthur is Captain of Arts for his House and Dominic is Keeper of Communications for the Farrer Theatre. The boys explain below how they make the most out of the wide range of opportunities available.
When did you first get involved with Drama at Eton?
D: I started in my first term of Year 9 because I had a Year 13 in my House who knew I liked theatre and he told me about all the behind-the-scenes opportunities. I joined the Makeup and Wardrobe Department and I’ve been in there ever since really!
A: We both do Drama as an academic subject and have done since Year 9, but I didn’t really get into it until Year 11 when we did the House Duologue Competition together. Now I wish I’d done it sooner.
Since then I’ve joined the Makeup and Wardrobe team, I did the Summer School Play, the 24-hour Play, our House Play: Treasure Island, and the House Drama Competition, which we won!
What do you like most about Drama at Eton?
D: I think it’s the community because I’ve made so many lifelong friends from it. The thing that brought the two of us together most is probably Drama. (A: Definitely!) The sewing workshops were really cool because I’d never done anything like that. It really let us take a more hands-on approach to everything, we were really able to get stuck in.
A: You get to meet people from so many different Houses and plays. I really like the range of drama available at School and all the smaller things that the Drama Department offers, like the acting and behind-the-scenes workshops. It’s insane how many plays we put on per year, it’s really impressive.
We also just had the Pear duo come in for a Q&A and they spoke about their experiences in the industry, directing, and creating theatre.
What are your responsibilities as Keeper of Communications and Captain of Arts?
D: I handle communications with the Farrer Theatre, so whenever we get a programme printed, I’ll be the one conversing with the printers. The most significant skill I’ve learnt is time management because you’re so busy. We also have a Keeper of Wardrobe, Sound, Lighting, and Stage.
A: At the moment as Captain of Arts, I’m organising the House Concert and mostly liaising between the Art Departments, my House Master, and boys. I encourage boys to get involved with drama, singing, and music competitions, providing them with as many opportunities as possible.
Our House Master, Dr Swan, tries to get as many boys involved in as many things as possible, so everyone in our House has this attitude of taking part in whatever’s available.
What has been your favourite production to work on?
D: It was my first play at the School, my Lower Boy Play in Year 9. It was really weird, I got to play Marge Simpson! It was set in the Renaissance and it was a musical. I really enjoyed how insane and absurd it was.
A: For me, it was our Independent Play— (D: Wait, I should have said that!)
It was great to have something of our own, that’s entirely us, that we created. The more I do drama, the more I love it.
Why should boys get involved in a House or Lower Boy Play?
D: Because of the House Play, I got to know everyone in the House a lot better. We got a lot of boys involved in Treasure Island, half of us were acting and a quarter were involved behind-the-scenes which was so cool. In the Lower Boy plays, the younger boys have the chance to act in lead roles which is really great.
A: I agree. As a House we’re so connected, there’s a lot of camaraderie and different year groups interacting. It’s also nice to act with boys who you don’t share classes with. It’s all the House talks about in the lead up to it.
The Lower Boy plays introduce acting to a lot of younger boys who might not have done it before, on a smaller scale to ease them into it.
