29 June 2026
The last full week of the school year brought our Wold Fringe Festival, which showcased the incredible performing arts talent at Woldingham.
Monday evening began in the auditorium with the wonderful LAMDA Showcase. Students from Year 7 upwards reprised exam pieces, some solo and some in pairs, demonstrating the many skills they are developing through their lessons in a variety of pieces, including Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Tim Minchin’s Matilda, and Toast to the Groom, which was both devised and performed by Morayo in Year 10.
The showcase was followed by DNA, written by Dennis Kelley, a thought-provoking production exploring responsibility and the consequences of our actions, made even more powerful thanks to the audience being in close proximity to the action in the intimate setting of our drama studio. This didn’t phase the very accomplished ensemble of actors from Years 7 to 11 who delivered this gripping play.
The drama studio was also the venue for lunchtime performances during Fringe week of reinterpretations of folk tales from around the world, devised by groups of Year 7 students for their drama enquiry project, part of the Marden Diploma. It was obvious that the girls had put lots of thought, creativity and effort into these ensemble pieces - and had plenty of fun along the way.
On Tuesday evening, it was our musicians’ turn to take to the auditorium stage in Anything Goes, our informal and enjoyably eclectic summer term concert. Among this year’s treats were our newly-formed Rock Choir’s performance of Hooberstank’s The Reason, wonderfully combined with an excerpt from Verdi’s La Traviata, sung by Jackie, Year 10; Purcell’s Rondeau performed by our Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta; Lean on Me from the Chamber Choir; and a fitting finale of Abba’s Thank You For The Music, sung beautifully by Minnie, Year 7. Director of Music Mr Richard Hammond-Hall praised all the performers, giving a special mention to our Year 10 and Lower Sixth musicians who have stepped up to take artistic risks and demonstrate music leadership this term as students taking GCSEs and A Levels went on study leave.
Thursday brought the ‘Wold premiere’ – and world premiere – of Frayed, a musical written and directed Stacey Williams, Director of Drama. Following the school drama trip to Athens in February, the city, its history, and the stories of powerful female figures from Greek myth, Arachne, Medusa, and Athena, inspired Miss Williams to write Frayed, an exploration of truth, power, reputation, and the consequences of challenging authority. Also in Miss Williams’ mind as she devised the piece were the many talented students in Year 10 and Lower Sixth who would bring her work to life. Together, the result was a captivating tale of the downfall of innocents, talented weaver Arachne and beautiful temple servant Medusa, brought about as scheming Nicastra tries to wreak vengeance on the goddess Athena for the death of her sister. The acting, songs and singing were simply superb and the choreography, set and lighting an absolute feast for the eyes. Miss Williams, cast and crew are aiming to take Frayed to the Edinburgh Fringe and beyond in the years ahead, which will come as no surprise to the extremely fortunate Wold Fringe Festival audiences who saw it first.