When looking through my copy of the calendar I was sent over the summer vacation as a keen new member of Common Room, something caught my eye. The words ‘House Performance’ appeared on the page and I was intrigued. During the first week of term I began to ask colleagues about this seemingly mysterious event and I was met with two contrasting responses – there were some who just looked at me as if they had been hit by a bolt of lightning, and then there were many more who could not stop singing its praises. So by the time the actual evening came I was more curious than ever.

 

For those, like me, who are new to all of this, House Performance is an evening of song and dance in which Houses compete against each other for the honour of being crowned ‘House Performance Champions’. The contest is in two parts, firstly an unaccompanied part-song involving members from all years in a House (the two girls’ Houses split themselves among the boys’ Houses through the twinning system). The second is a dance in which all the IVth form are taught a dance that is arranged and choreographed by VIth form members. A winner is chosen for each category and an overall winner announced.

 

All performances were superb and it was a pleasure to see many of my pupils doing things that I never even imagined they were capable of. The commitment, time and effort that went into the performances were immense and this really showed. The two invited judges, two Austrian Economists, gave the whole evening a distinctly Eurovision Song Contest flavour to it.

 

 

 

 

Winner: Cubitt

Runner-up: East

 

Winner: East

Runner-Up: Loveday

 

Overall Winner: East

 

 

 

 

There were too many outstanding performances to highlight anyone in particular, but one thing that struck me (and the judges) was the enthusiasm and support that was given. It was almost as if the result didn’t matter – the real winners were the audience on the night. The passion and atmosphere in Speech Hall that evening is something I will never forget (PJC! PJC!). So when next year comes round and someone asks me, ‘what’s this House Performance all about?’, you’ll know what my response will be.

 

 

FTH