Email:
Tel: 01425 611153
Coming Events
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Saturday 16th October – Variety Show 3pm and 7pm |
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Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th October – GCSE Drama Production |
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17th, 18th & 19th November George Orwell’s ANIMAL FARM adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge by arrangement with Nick Hern Books |
Tickets for all these events can be obtained from
Box Office
rachelspackman@ballardschool.co.uk
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Ballard Challenge 2010 Both pupils and staff are still recovering from the pace and range of opportunities provided by the Ballard Challenge! The Challenge week began with a rigorous morning of physical activity under the watchful eye of the Royal Marines, and finished with an awards ceremony followed by a keenly contested game of rounders. With our pupils exhausted from the military style drill sessions on that first morning, they were then introduced to the delights of the ration pack. I believe the chicken tikka meal was enjoyed the most! In the afternoon there was a presentation in the PAC on life in the Armed Forces, and this was followed by a really important discussion and presentation focusing on internet awareness. Life skills sessions over the next two days were offered in nutrition, interview techniques, personal care, financial management, etiquette and first aid. There was also an exciting technology challenge for all groups. Within this carousel of activities pupils were given time to prepare a presentation on a subject of their choice. All presentations were judged on the last day of the Challenge by members of the New Milton Rotary. The ability to stand up in front of people and speak with confidence we feel is a critical tool for all our pupils. The year 9 pupils were assessed in each session, and awards were graded to reflect both their commitment and their level of achievement. Ballard pupils enjoyed a visit from the Fire Brigade, during which time they were given a presentation on fire safety and an opportunity to man the pumps and discuss the various tools of the trade with several fire fighters. It was good to see how our pupils rose to the Ballard Challenge, and impressed with their energy and enthusiasm. Plenty of gold and silver certificates were awarded, with all pupils fully deserving their BBQ that finished off the week. |
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What a treat! Transported into an Edwardian dining room for the evening, parents and pupils enjoyed a first rate production of Priestley’s famous play, Inspector Calls.The Inspector’s (and Priestley’s) message to society came through strongly thanks to the convincing performances of all the key actors. ET was perfect in the role of Mr Birling, playing the part with great conviction. CH quickly established an almost God like authority as Inspector Goole, and seemed to relish her role in shaming the younger members of the Birling family. What a pity she couldn’t do the same with the aristocratic Mrs Birling, so admirably played by both JA and AM. The younger generation, represented by Eric, Sheila and Gerald were sufficiently affected by the Inspector’s interrogation that they quickly saw their responsibility to the more vulnerable elements of society. It was good to see how these actors clearly enjoyed their roles and how they had thought carefully about how best to portray them. All the actors clearly enjoyed playing their part in such a well known play; they are to be congratulated. Based on this performance, outstanding drama GCSE grades are anticipated! Thank you Mrs Fitzpatrick for all your hard work in putting this play together; it was an evening to remember. |
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‘The Emerald Crown’ This year’s musical was based on the eternal tussle of rainforest versus progress; it opened with a wonderful song all about how it takes “100 years for a tree to grow”. The construction workers were very enthusiastic with their “slash and burn” song; their actions were evocative and destruction of the forest was certainly imminent. All the creatures of the forest joined together to become the most attractive activists and tree huggers ever seen. There were superman bats who sang “we’re bats, absolutely bats” and the audience agreed wholeheartedly and the monkeys swung through the trees to the jungle disco. There were three jaguars who sang about being “wild cats, wild cats”, claws on show, which they used very effectively in their feline dance. The 20th Century Highwaymen were convincingly up to no good and then magically transformed into frogs. Mr Alastair Reid, headmaster, said that “All the children had performed extremely well and what a wonderful display of talent there was across the age range.” Mr Reid went on to thank parents and staff for all their hard work. |
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After months of preparation and lots of hard work the second Ballard dance showcase exploded onto the PAC stage. With over 90 children involved from year 1 to year 11 the atmosphere was electric and backstage everyone was really excited. AR got all the audience going with his excellent Michael Jackson moves and LS really came alight with an amazing star quality. Other magical moments came from the L twins, the M sisters and JS. The GCSE Dance group proved why they are at the top of the school with superb stage presence and the baby Ballard youth dancers made everyone smile with their cheeky wiggles. Many audience members told me they were in tears after the very emotional choreography by NB a fantastic piece that conveyed the struggles within changing families. The finale of the show saw all the Ballard youth dancers take to the stage in a powerful staging of the circle of life from the lion king. TC led the group with a convincing performance, lifting EW high into the air at the beginning to symbolise the unity of all the groups at Ballard. Both the matinee and evening performances went very well but an extra sense of occasion was added in the evening with the performance being the very last one for those year 11s who will be leaving us this summer. Many of those year elevens were in the original seven that started in Ballard youth dance and it was extra special to therefore see them dance for one final time in the group that had grown so incredibly. The future is very bright for our young dancers, I look forward to working with them again to create an even better dance showcase 2011!! By Felicity Costick
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The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe The first things about the year 6 production of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe were the expressive faces and colourful voices that opened the play with real energy and colour.Their entrance into the world of Narnia was truly magical. Effective stage techniques really made the audience feel they were entering a different world. The lighting was cleverly executed to represent snow and the animal costumes and makeup were wonderful.As relationships developed between the children and the creatures of Narnia some excellent acting ensued. The relationship his brother Peter was both funny and believable. The entrance of the White Witch sent a shiver rippling through the audience. She looked just right in her sleigh with wild hair and white costume. Her icy tones conveyed the sheer evil nature of this nasty character. In contrast, Aslan the lion was warm, strong and loveable. There was a particularly lovely scene when he first came on stage, bringing a multitude of small animals and the sounds of spring with him. Another highlight was the moving scene between Lucy, Susan and Aslan ahead of his sacrifice to the White Witch. All three characters conveyed the poignant mood here and the sense of foreboding. The play reached its climax as Aslan returned to life and the children conquered the White Witch. The battle scene was well choreographed and very dramatic. All the supporting characters were very good, and particular congratulations should go to the year 2 children who were so focused and confident for ones so young. Well done to all the cast and crew for all their hard work on this bright and colourful production.
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A Christian Riding Lights Performance We were privileged to host the Riding Lights’ Theatre Company from York as they performed their new Passion Play, ‘The Narrow Road’, in the run up to Easter. Passion Plays are part of an ancient tradition going back to Medieval times and are a means of communicating the gospel stories of Jesus, with a particular focus on Easter (or Passion) week, in a vibrant and arresting way. This production was hosted at Ballard in conjunction with Lymington Baptist Church which provided the musicians to accompany the songs in between scenes. There were only three actors and one actress but between them they did a marvellous job representing over a dozen characters. They employed a simple set but made a clever use of costume, sound and lighting, to produce a very moving piece of drama in just under two hours. Riding Lights performed to a packed house and everyone came away having been challenged to revisit the Easter story in a fresh way. |
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Life as a Director of Photography Peter Greenhalgh
The final lecture in the Ballard / Highcliffe Spring Term programme took place on Monday. Mr. Peter Greenhalgh, one of our parents and a BAFTA award winning cameraman, gave a fascinating insight into the life of a Director of Photography. (He also let us into the secrets surrounding the up-coming BBC programme on ‘Atlantis’!) I am very grateful to Mrs Norris for coordinating these lectures, to Highcliffe School for its support and to the many parents, pupils, staff and friends of the school who have made the series so positive and memorable. |
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The FOBS Quiz Night last Friday was a huge success. There were twelve teams in all – each with around ten people – and two of the teams were pupil ones. A staff team (mostly Music and PE colleagues with their families) triumphed but the top four teams were all within a few points of each other. |
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The lecture by Dr Andrew Gates (Mrs Gates’ son) was a very enjoyable and popular occasion. We learned about how he arrived in his current position as a researcher with the Southampton Oceanography Centre. His talk was illustrated, with photographs and video of the exploration work on the sea bed, mostly in waters around the UK. He had samples to show and explained how the samples are collected by robot, operated from ships on the surface. His obvious passion and enthusiasm for his subject will hopefully inspire some of our young people to follow the science path to university. |
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‘Joseph’ was undoubtedly one of the best shows to hit the stage of the The show got of to an energetic and colourful start with ‘Coat of Many Colours’. HMR captured Joseph’s youthful arrogance perfectly as he span round admiring his coat. Effective choreography and lovely costumes left the stage awash with colour. The technicolour dreamcoat itself was fantastic! The role of the Narrator was shared by JA, MM, LT and FS, each of whom has a beautiful and unique voice. The four girls put their own stamp on the role, guiding the audience through the action in the own way. Other highlights from the firs half included GW's lively and superbly funny performance of ‘One More Angel’ and the Potiphar domestic, which was very well choreographed. AC made a striking temptress in a perfectly chosen costume. HMR showed is versatility as a performer in ‘Close Every Door to Me’. This powerful and moving prison scene was enhanced by dramatic lighting and clever scenery. The second half brought a new twist in the form of AM. Ballard’s PE and French teacher performed Pharoah’s Elvis-style ‘Seven Fat Cows’, complete with pelvic thrusts! Andy was a huge hit with the audience and left us in no doubt where M inherited her voice. The highlight of the second half, however, was TL's ‘Canaan Days’. T incorporated the wide range of skills necessary for musical theatre, making it a professional standard performance. As Joseph was reunited with his brothers the show came to a colourful conclusion. The lead characters were well cast and very talented, with costumes, lighting, staging and a band to match. What really made the show so successful though was the fact that all the members of the chorus put in 100% to their performance. Well done to everyone involved.
Joseph DVD’s A reminder that final orders for these are now being taken; They are £20.00 per DVD, please make cheque payable to Ballard School and mark for the attention of Rachel Spackman. Many thanks |
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Christchurch Priory was packed with joyful singers from Ballard on Friday. The music and the readings gave us all a wonderful start to the coming Christmas celebrations. The Senior and Staff choir began with O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the congregation then had their first turn with Once in Royal David's City. Traditonal readings from the bible were read by pupils and the headmaster and the handbells played Do you hear what I hear and the Chamber choir sang Gaudete!. This is just a few of the items that made this a wonderful occassion to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas |
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The FOBS Christmas Fayre was a great success. There was a very busy, happy atmosphere all over the school! The Performing Arts Centre was full of happy shoppers who kick started their christmas shopping browsing around 40 stalls. The children let off steam in the sportshall on the giant inflatables and the rockin' Reindeer and the highlight of the evening had to be the 'big fight' in the bouncy boxing ring between Mr Winch and Mrs King. How Mrs King knocked Mr Winch out we will never know!! We did a brisk trade in the dining room selling mulled wine and mince pies and the sweet stall was very hectic, as usual! The younger children enjoyed the magical woodland walk under the starry skies to find Santa Claus on his sleigh! All in all it was a great way to start the festive season off and it raised some much needed funds too. |
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The Show must go on! Despite gale force gusts and torrential rain, Ballard friends and family packed out St Peter’s School theatre to raise money for the ‘It’s My Life Trust Fund’ on Saturday. The Variety Show was originally due to be performed at the Pier Theatre – a privilege won by a pupil in the reception class in an Easter bonnet competition – but sadly the Pier was closed because of the bad weather. In true showbiz style the pupils overcame the setback and the show went on. Nobody minded the venue change one bit, least of all the pupil who was second on the bill with a delightful solo. There was some lovely acting in scenes from ‘Street Child’ and ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and some fun sketches and poetry. The Junior Choir sang a song written especially for the evening called ‘At the Pier’. This was bright and fun and encouraged the audience to use their imaginations! The Pre-preps looked adorable dressed in pyjamas and miming sleepwalking for their ‘Time for Bed’ sequence and Belles Canto put on a remarkable performance in the tricky discipline of singing whilst simultaneously playing the handbells. Without a doubt, Shrunk in the Wash stole the show with ‘Big Noise’. This lively concoction of drums and double bass combined clever beats and entertainment, as the boys tried to outdo each other in every way possible. More than £1000 was raised for ‘It’s My Life’, who help children and adults with neurological disabilities. Well done to all the performers and organisers for putting on such a splendid show and raising money for this worthy cause. |
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Street Child – By Berlie Doherty-is the true story of Jim Jarvis’ life in Victorian England and how he inspired Dr Barnardo to set up his charity. This dark, moving and dramatic production was very ambitious, and the young cast rose to the challenge magnificently. Jim’s vulnerability was captured beautifully as he underwent suffering and abuse in the workhouse, on the streets and working on a coal lighter. The gentle Dr Barnardo had just the right soft Irish accent. There were so many moving and powerful moments in this play. One of the most touching scenes took place in the workhouse, when a sleeping Jim was visited by the angelic figures of his sisters and mother. Cleverly staged, well-timed and perfectly set to music, this scene brought tears to the audience’s eyes. Equally moving was Shrimps’ death scene. The added details of flowers, a candle and the pauper’s cart were evidence that every bit of this production had been thought out with precision. Shrimps himself was expertly played, who recognised the humorous and tragic elements that make up this lovable character. There was plenty of visual contrast, ranging from the bright, lively circus scenes to the dark workhouse. Lighting was used very effectively here to portray the barred windows preventing any child from escaping their miserable existence. Sheila Gates’ production of ‘Street Child’ was pure theatre at its best. Congratulations should go to the director for her vision and skill and for co-ordinating such a challenging production. Fittingly, all profits from the production are to be donated to Dr Barnardo’s, for children in the twenty-first century who need help just as much as Jim Jarvis did then. |
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‘The best firework display yet!’ These were the comments from the 600 strong crowd of adults and children watching on a chilly November evening. There was a great atmosphere on the night even though earlier in the day the wind and rain was a concern to all. The rain contingency plan kicked into action and we served the delicious hogroast from the dining room and covered the veranda with a viewing marquee. Ollie Maddock rocked the PAC with his DJing skills after the display and some of the senior students played live music on the veranda which lots of people listened to with their hot chocolate or mulled wine in hand. Another great event organised by FOBS to raise money for the school |
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On Wednesday 14th October Ballard School Pre-Prep pupils took part in their annual Harvest Festival Assembly. The service was led by Year 2, with poems and songs from Kindergarten, Reception and Year 1. The children spoke and sang with enthusiasm and everyone was very impressed by their confidence. We were treated to the fantastic vocal harmonies of a small group of Senior pupils as they sang Psalm 23 ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ Parents were very generous in their donations and the sale of fresh produce following the service raised £200 for ‘The Good News Children’s Home’ in Mombasa, Kenya. The non-perishable goods were taken to the ‘Lymington & New Forest Basics Bank’. Thank you to all the children, staff and parents involved. |
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'Following on from our first Ladies Night back in March, due to popular demand we organised another one which was held in September. It was another great success! The PAC was transformed with over 20 stall holders selling everything from scarfs, jewellery and handbags to soaps and cards. The Green Room with a little magic and lots of pink material became a treatment room and those lucky enough to get an appointment had 20 minute taster sessions for facials, massage, nail painting etc. The evening was a great success and raised just over £800. |
Past Events
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The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe. A fight broke out backstage during a performance in the PAC and a supposedly dead character began muttering instructions to the other actors. In case you are wondering, this was not a break in the tradition of high quality Ballard productions, but the GCSE Drama students’ hilarious version of The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe This is Shakespeare’s ‘play within a play’ from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which a group of dreadful actors put on a poorly produced show. The Year 10 students put their own stamp on it, with many humorous additions to the original text. It was clear they had a lot of fun improvising, re-scripting and doing all the things they would never normally do on stage! The director Quince continually shouts corrections from the wings. Timing was well observed here, adding to the humour. A wonderfully over the top Pyramus and a great comedy character Wall. The pair had a good onstage rapport and used movement successfully to develop even more humour. Particularly funny was Wall’s refusal to let Pyramus past, insisting he walk round the wall to get to the other side of the stage. An alarmingly seductive Thisbe, complete with wig and lipstick, and an imaginatively portrayed a threatening Moonshine, whom one suspects has anger management issues. My favourite part came when the fierce lion with stage fright, could not read his own cues written on his arm. Well done to these budding comedy actors for a hilarious and entertaining production. Good luck to them all in their upcoming Drama GCSE. |
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Rainbow Spectacular Ballard Pre-prep’s Rainbow Spectacular was energetic, fun and needless to say, colourful! This lively production of song and dance starred pupils from Reception and Years 1&2. The youngest member of the cast was just four years old. Children with speaking parts said their lines in loud, clear voices so that the audience could hear every word .These were the ‘baddie’ colours who tried to spoil the sunny day. These young children really brought the characters to life. There was a wide selection of songs all about the different colours of the rainbow, and some lovely young voices delivered super solos. All the children sang with bags of enthusiasm and their big smiles showed just how much they enjoyed taking part. The music was supported by some subtle touches of dance. In the song ‘Hello Yellow’, children danced with large yellow hoops. This was very sweet and again accompanied by lots of smiles. The superb costumes really helped to make this such a great visual show. They were bright and detailed and in every colour imaginable. The yellow sun costume was especially memorable. Thanks to the Year 8&9 students who used their creative talents here. As the children sang the final number, they waved delightful coloured ribbons. This multicoloured finale looked fantastic! Well done to all the children and staff for such a wonderful, colourful production. |
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Fantastic Mr Fox
Children from Year 6 captivated an enthralled audience with their delightful production of Fantastic Mr Fox. it was an eventful journey of fun and laughter as Mr Fox made his way through underground tunnels to steal chickens, ducks and geese to feed his starving family. Simple staging with only three black blocks and subtle lighting created the empty canvas for the imaginary scenes to be painted on. The three farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean, worked together as a well timed comedy trio and had the audience rocking with laughter as they set out in pursuit of the foxes. Colourful costumes, effective make-up and excellent mime and movement brought the animals to life. Lively music accompanied the foxes in their frantic underground digging escapade and again had the audience in stitches! The young actors were confident in their roles and spoke their lines in clear, well projected voices. They obviously enjoyed every minute of this well rehearsed and entertaining production. Thank you to Sally Gates, the Year 6 Drama activity group and the production team for such an enjoyable evening. |
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My Fair Lady
Recently the seniors put on three evenings of musical entertainment. ‘My Fair Lady’ combined favourite songs, an enjoyable storyline and some lovely performances from Ballard pupils. LC made a super Eliza Doolittle, capturing this endearing cockney flower girl’s character perfectly. She sang “Wouldn’t it be Lovely” beautifully, and kept the standard up for the rest of her solos. AMP played Professor Higgins. His comic asides got many laughs and he portrayed this bad-mannered snob well. AHK played the gentler Colonel Pickering and the pair worked well on stage, highlighting the contrast between the characters. GW as Eliza’s father Alfred P Doolittle characterised this likeable rogue well and gave a great performance of “With a Little Bit of Luck”. Simple but very effective choreography made this song even more enjoyable. The highlight of the production was undoubtedly the Ascot scene, where Eliza recites her speech exercises to bemused onlookers. Costumes were bright and added a real sense of grandeur. Other great performances came from TL and KA. T sang Freddy Eynsford-Hill’s solos beautifully, and K’s precise diction suited Mrs Higgins to a tee. The musicians worked very hard throughout the show, demonstrating great teamwork and complimenting the on-stage action. They put on a great performance and added to the smooth running of the production. Overall ‘My Fair Lady’ was a hit with all age groups. It was fun and lively and the students clearly enjoyed being involved. |
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Oliver! Ballard School’s production of ‘Oliver’ brought the summer term to a spectacular close. The well-known songs and gritty storyline came to life through wonderful singing, dancing and acting. |
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The Snow Queen – By Stuart Paterson Based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson |
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Friends of Ballard School Hollywood Ball Parents were treated to a glamorous night out at 'The Oscars' this year. After stepping out of their limo and walking down the red carpet they walked in to the sports hall which once again had been transformed in to a stunning marquee. After an impromptu auction which raised £3,600 everyone danced to the fantastic 10 piece swingband 'The Ratpack'. Flairers at the cocktail bar were showing off their skills in the background and everyone had a wonderful evening. One of the talking points of the evening was the 'Ladies Powder Room'. With a bit of magic and creativity the girls changing room rivalled any at the Chewton Glen! |
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Friends of Ballard School Summer Fayre 
Tues 12th Oct     
 © Ballard School 2010
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