Stage and Stories: An Immersive Evening of Performance 

11th February 2026

This week, the Drama & Performing Arts Department transformed Westonbirt’s state rooms, Orangery and Drama Studio for the Speech and Drama Soiree, Stage and Stories. The immersive event invited audiences to move between curated performance spaces, each hosting a distinct cohort of pupils and a bespoke programme. 

Stage and Stories was a showcase of the dedication and talent of our scholars, Performance Pathway pupils, LAMDA students and those studying GCSE and A Level Drama. Pupils played an integral role in each part of the evening, not just performing but also directing and helping to organise the event, demonstrating their creativity and commitment to bringing the evening to life. 

The Drama Studio welcomed our A Level Drama students, who performed their examination pieces. Each performance demonstrated detailed character work and thoughtful interpretation of text. In the Library, which recently featured in Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery and is no stranger to hosting dramatic scenes, our LAMDA pupils presented a selection of speeches, presentations and monologues. 

The Reading Room came alive with a series of ensemble pieces, including an extract from Lord of the Flies directed by Max W as part of his A Level Drama studies. Meanwhile, the Orangery provided a stage for larger scale performances, featuring musical theatre pieces from productions including Beetlejuice, before concluding with a selection of Year 11 examination pieces. 

Reflecting on the evening, Chrissie Smith, Subject Lead for Dance, said: 

“We are incredibly proud of this talented and dedicated group of students, whose enthusiasm for theatre shines through everything they do. Everyone involved worked exceptionally hard to bring this new vision to life at Westonbirt School, and it was a pleasure to hear such positive feedback from the audience. Thank you to all who came to support the event, and a huge congratulations to the students involved.” 

Stage and Stories was a celebration of the breadth and ambition of Performing Arts at Westonbirt. The evening reflected not only the exceptional standard of performance across year groups but also their passion and dedication to theatre. A huge well done to all pupils who delivered wonderful performances and thank you to everyone involved for making it such a memorable occasion.