Performance Arts

Shortlisted for the 2022 Independent School of the Year Award for Performance Arts and Music.

The Performance Arts Faculty at BMS has a long-standing tradition of providing students with an array of unrivalled exciting and challenging opportunities. They have the chance to take part in:

School productions – We produce school productions for the Junior and Senior Schools in which students have the chance to perform in the school theatre. Recent shows include The Little Mermaid, Our House, Urinetown and Beauty and the Beast.
ACT! – Bedford Modern School hosts Bedford’s Schools’ Drama Festival. Schools from across the region come together to create and perform an evening of devised drama. This is exclusively for our Y7 and Y8 students.
Theatre in Transit – Our exclusive Sixth Form theatre company, delivering a wide range of thought-provoking and challenging productions. Recent plays include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town and The Caucasian Chalk Circle all performed at The Place in Bedford.
Dance classes – These are offered to all years in Ballet, Tap, Modern, and Street Dance. The dance highlights of the year are the Dance Showcase and the House Dance Competition.
Speech and Drama – Students will have the chance to attend private lessons to prepare for LAMDA exams and take part in the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama as well as our own Speech and Drama Showcase.
New York’s Broadway – Every other year we run a Sixth Form trip to the bright lights of New York – a wonderful experience designed specifically for performance arts students. Students watch two Broadway shows, attend a professionally run workshop as well visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the ‘Top of the Rock’.
Performance Programme – Students are offered involvement in our bespoke Performance Programme in which they can access specialist workshops and trips designed to inspire our most gifted students.
Workshops and Trips – There are also several workshops and trips to the theatre throughout the academic year. Recent workshops include Blood Brothers (Y8), stage combat (Yrs 9 &10) and Frantic Assembly (Yrs 12 & 13), whilst trips include visits to see Our Country’s Good (Yrs12 & 13), the Warner Bros Studios (Y9) and the National Theatre Archives (Y13).

All BMS students are encouraged to audition for the various productions and showcases throughout the year.

Downloads

Modern Arts Brochure 2024/25

Artistic Highlights 2023-24

Performance Arts

Facilities

We have comprehensive Performing Arts facilities including a 300-seat auditorium, a theatre workshop, a dance studio and two drama studios.

The Howard Hall is a large and flexible space which forms the centrepiece of the School’s Performing Arts area. It features:

A comprehensive lighting rig and sound system
Seating which can be curtained off to create an atmospheric events area
An adjoining large scenery workshop, green room, prop and costume store and dressing facilities.

Drama Room 1 adjoins the Howard Hall and the Music Faculty. This large studio is used for classroom drama, dance lessons and rehearsals and contains a comprehensive sound system, video projection facilities, a mirrored wall and ballet bar.

Drama Room 2 and The Studio are smaller ‘black box’ spaces used for classroom drama from Years 7-13. They contain lighting facilities, and up-to-date projection and sound systems.

Speech and Drama is taught at School House. Several teaching rooms are available here, as well as a small library of playscripts.

Technical and administrative support is led by our theatre manager who oversees all our productions.

"“I wouldn’t have been able to get into LAMDA had it not been for the support and encouragement I received from BMS. My A Level in Theatre Studies gave me the practical experience to develop my career after leaving.”" OBM Charlie Russell (2005-07), Actress in The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Doctors

"“I performed in all the plays and musicals I possibly could and studied GCSE Drama and A Level Theatre Studies. Without BMS, I wouldn’t have had the courage to join the National Youth Theatre or get to where I am now, not only as a professional television and film actor, but as a person.”" OBM Sope Dirisu (2002-09), Actor in Utopia, The Mill and The Huntsman

"“After completing my A Levels, I went on to study Stage Management at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Using the strong foundations I learnt during my time at BMS, I was able to begin to build my career within the performing arts. Since leaving the school, I have been fortunate enough to work across West End theatres, at the National Theatre, and have now moved into live events.”" OBM Ben Brown (2009), Stage Manager on War Horse, Deputy Production Manager at the National Theatre

Please click here to read the Shakespeare Schools Festival review of the BMS production of Romeo and Juliet.

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!

Sister Act

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

An Ideal Husband

Beauty and the Beast

Our House

Me and My Girl

Dance!