Photo – Act23! Festival

By Mrs Horton (Drama Teacher)

This half term, the Year 7 and 8 Drama Club is revisiting a very special play: The Domino Effect by Fin Kennedy. This choice marks an exciting chapter in our ongoing journey to ensure that our co-curricular drama activities reflect the diverse and vibrant student body we’re so proud of at our school.

Three years ago, when we first explored this play, it was part of a deliberate effort to address an important challenge. At the time, we noticed that some of our student body were not actively participating in co-curricular drama. Drama is such a powerful tool for expression, creativity and confidence-building, and I felt it was crucial to provide material that resonated with our students and celebrated their experiences, and offered students opportunities to see themselves reflected in the scripts and stimulus choices we were making.

The Domino Effect, written specifically for a school whose cohort was predominantly Asian girls, offered exactly that. It’s a beautifully crafted play that tackles themes of resilience, community, and the interconnectedness of our actions, all through relatable characters and an engaging narrative which celebrates a modern multicultural society and in particular South Asia Culture. By showcasing stories that felt closer to home, told in an authentic voice, I hoped to inspire more students to see drama as something for them.

Fast forward to today, and I’m thrilled to see how things have changed. In the last three years, we’ve seen a steady rise in our student body, from all backgrounds opting to take part in drama clubs, workshops, and performances. It’s a testament to the importance of representation and the impact of creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.

Revisiting The Domino Effect now feels particularly meaningful. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come while reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity in the arts. The Year 7 and 8 Drama Club is already buzzing with enthusiasm for the play, and I’m so proud of how they’re approaching it with curiosity and creativity. I hope it will not only be entertaining to explore in drama club, but also spark meaningful conversations about how the stories we tell – and who gets to tell them – can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other.