Dr Faustus (2019/2020)

“… innovative ideas for GCSE devised pieces, several of which our pupils have used in their examination work – vocal soundscaping; tickle and slap; audience participation; archetypal physicality…”
Jannette Bloor, Director of Performing Arts, The Grange School, Hartford

“Clear narrative and rich in stylistic features to pick apart with the pupils…Fresh ideas and approaches for devising work… we’re already seeing the influence in their work.”
Sam Martin, Head of Drama, Kennet School

“… with the amount of focus, energy and audience interaction, the pupils were hooked from beginning to end… the youngest never having seen anything like it before… touring theatre at its absolute best!”
Josie Downer, Head of Drama, St Nicholas’ School

“…vast amount of skills displayed in professional way for students to emulate.”
Mark Oakshott, Head of Drama, All Hallows Catholic School

“A powerful example of how great theatre doesn’t have to have amazing lighting or complex set.”
Phil Butterfield, Head of Drama, Ryburn Valley High School

“It was engaging, exciting, playful! The students loved it. They have not stopped talking about it and want you back!!”
Karen Wallace-Jones, Creative Arts Lead, Brookfields SEN School

“Exactly what our students needed to see.”
Rachel Curness, CL Performing Arts, The Buckingham School

“Brilliantly thought-provoking and entertaining in equal measure… Our students are genuinely excited when they know Splendid Productions are coming to visit – as are the staff!”
Emma Webb, Assistant Head, Croydon High School

“A great piece of theatre. A wonderfully fun but also socially conscious piece.”
James King, Associate Lecturer, Exeter College

“Great as always. Particularly popular with students – many saying it was the best Splendid play they’d ever seen! … Really clear story and message and lots of fun with some exceptional characterisation.”
Michelle Sinclair, Drama teacher, McAuley Catholic High School

“Not only did the performance meet expectations, it exceeded them…. Clever adaptation with a high energy performance brought Marlowe into the 21st Century with a bang!”
Philip Hindle, Theatre Manager, Co-op Academy Manchester

“We can see the impact immediately on students creativity and practical work.”
Laura Hutt, Assistant Head and Teacher of Drama, Calder High School

“A high quality Splendid-style performance that provided our students with the ability to access the live theatre component of their GCSE qualification to the highest levels.”
Julia Mallard, Head of Performing Arts, Kettering Science Academy

“Always fantastic but a particular masterpiece this year.”
Briony James, Subject Leader for Drama, Dover Grammar School for Girls

“The students will be using the performance as one of their Theatre Reviews for the written exam and having the DVD will be invaluable to refresh their memory closer to the exam.”
Jayne Taylor, Head of Drama and Theatre, Esher Sixth Form College

“…outstanding. My students loved the performance and haven’t stopped talking about it since! The style, use of multi-roling and episodic structure has provided students with so many examples to discuss as part of their theatre review. I feel that this will allow them to have more options and points for discussion in their review, than if they saw a naturalistic performance, for example.

The post-show talk exceeded my expectations as my students had not experienced a post-show discussion or intimate performance before and I was unsure how they would handle this. However, the actors supported my students so much with their questioning which encouraged more and more students to get involved. The got so much out of this section and also loved speaking with professional working actors and enquiring about their rehearsal process, as well as the show.

The teachers pack provided was invaluable. It has, without a doubt, helped us to prepare PowerPoints and theatre review booklets for the students. The booklets have also allowed us to effectively prompt students with questions, that we as teaching staff now confidently know the answer to. Having access to the DVD will also allow for staff and students to re-watch the performance for revision purposes.

I also wanted to show my students what you could do in our performance space, with a small cast and minimal set,props and costume. It was eye-opening for them and I am confident will have a positive impact on their devising next year as well as their theatre review.”
Alex Weller, Subject Leader Drama, Plume Academy

“As usual a very high level of skill and originality. Very funny and accessible for the students… I was great for the Year 10 students to learn about the characters and themes within the play in a practical way as they will be writing about it in their exam. I have used the company several times before and I know that we always get a quality performance.”
Fiona Hamill, Drama teacher, Loreto Grammar School

“Thank you so much for inspiring our students (and me!) with your enthusiastic approach to performance and devising. Your fuss free approach to visits makes organisation easy and manageable.”
Danielle Deveney, Head of Drama, Cardinal Newman Catholic School

“Explaining Brechtian techniques is one thing, but seeing it so seamlessly implemented into a comedic and thought provoking piece was so useful for our students.”
Lyndsey Orr, Drama Teacher, King Edwards VI Camp Hill School for Girls

“It gave me some new teaching ideas when delivering Brecht including a simple way to teach gestus, which I’ve struggled with in the past.”
Lucy Whelan, Drama teacher, St Richard’s Catholic College

“You brought a complex difficult text to life with your adaptation and it was inspirational for the pupils.”
Andrea Asbury, Head of Drama, Hull Collegiate School

“All the students were inspired by what they had seen and have started to use Splendid style in their devised pieces.”
Rhianne Kent, Stokesley School

“The theatre performance nailed every aspect of Brecht and Component 1 reinterpretation of a Text using a theory for Eduqas … the students loved the chance to speak to the actors and see a piece of theatre that’s didn’t have a thousand and one black outs…It was so engaging, professional and challenging. It provoked the students and inspired them. Thank you.”
Claire Hullock, Teacher of Drama, New College

“It was an amazing showpiece of skills and techniques, applied to a classic and always relevant story… I have been with Splendid since day one and I adore everything they do. As a teacher, they are consistently the best example of excellence and dedication that I can put in front of my students…. And fun too!!!!”
Berj Tekerian, Learning Leader – Drama and English, Amersham School

“Splendid are the best company that tour to schools! Students were able to see the standard of performance that could be achieved in their own studio space and get ideas to copy in their own devised work.”
Jessica Gill, Head of Drama, St Mary’s Catholic School

“A fantastic, well devised and expertly executed piece of work. The workshop and post-show discussion are such valuable tools for learning, they allow our pupils to consolidate and understand what they have seen on stage and to verbalise their thoughts and reactions. The opportunity to ask questions helps our pupils prepare for their Live Theatre exam question and we find it so useful… We have Splendid in year on year and they never disappoint, We had two full mark answers based on your performance last year!”
Ellie Hemsley, Head of Drama, Palmers Green High School