Our Facilities
The Hammond Theatre
Our professional standard theatre is a venue to rival any school in the country and offers the perfect environment for a wide range of performances. It seats 380 people, is fully equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound technology and is run by a full time technical team. Hampton School is an accredited venue for National Theatre Live screenings allowing boys and the Hampton community affordable access to world class theatre.
The Hammond TheatreThe Drama Hall
Situated in The Garrick building, the hall is used as a performance space, rehearsal and teaching room and as a venue for drama workshops by visiting professional practitioners. The Drama Hall also has a lighting rig and a range of audio visual equipment.
The Dance Studio
We are fortunate to benefit from an excellent dance studio with mirrored walls and wooden sprung floor which is used for academic lessons and co-curricular work. Dances for the School’s biennial musical are rehearsed in the studio, and during lessons it is used as a facility for chorus and movement work.
performances
Senior School Musicals
These extremely popular musicals are performed as a joint production with Lady Eleanor Holles every year. Pupils from Third Year and above are encouraged to take part and competition for principle roles is very strong. Previous musicals have included Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Crazy for You.
The Junior Musical
Taking place biennially, these musicals offer First to Fourth Year pupils the opportunity to take part in a large scale production, often joint with Waldegrave School. Previous musicals have included The Wizard of Oz, Oliver! and Tin Pan Ali.
Lower School Play
Boys from First to Third Year are invited to participate in this annual production, taking place in the Summer term. Previous plays have included Rats' Tales, The Ramayana and Jason and the Argonauts.
Sixth Form Play
There is the opportunity for Sixth Form dramatists to perform a play in the Spring term. This tends to be a pupil-led production. Previous Sixth Form directed plays have included The Importance of Being Earnest, Punk Rock and All My Sons.
Clubs & Trips
JUNIOR DRAMA CLUB
Open to all boys in the First, Second and Third Year, this club meets during lunchtime, once a week. Pupils work on their improvisation and performance skills through a series of games and exercises.
TECHNICAL THEATRE CLUB
Pupils meet on an ad hoc basis throughout the year and learn how to operate and programme the latest lighting and sound equipment in The Hammond Theatre. Hamptonians participating in this club will be under continual guidance and supervision by the Theatre team and regularly provide backstage support for our Drama productions.
TRIPS
Each Hamptonian studying Drama will visit the theatre at least once during the year to watch and evaluate a live professional performance. Pupils are also encouraged to see the professional theatre productions that tour to our very own theatre and attend the National Theatre Live screenings at The Hammond Theatre. The department has also taken a production to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.