Ash Manor Blog
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Students at Ash Manor recently brought a bit of West End wonder to the school with the Winter production of Curious Incident of Dog in the Night Time. Based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon, the book was adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens for the National Theatre in 2012 and bought the world of Christopher Boone to life.
Christopher is a neurologically atypical boy who loves numbers and comes across a dead dog in his neighbour's garden one evening. Despite promising his father he won't do any 'detecting', Christopher embarks on a journey of discovery that results in him travelling to London on his own, being reunited with his mother who he believed had died of a heart attack and solving the mystery of the dead dog.
This is a complex and difficult play, full of mature themes and the Ash Manor production with students from year 7-11 was fantastic. The set, designed by DT technician Mark Pike helped us visualise what was going on in Christopher's maths-obsessed mind. Along with the beautifully choreographed ensemble work which used choral speaking and movement to help us understand Christopher's experience.
The cast skilfully created the soundscape as he rode the tube across London and one beautiful moment was when Christopher discovered a box of hidden letters: these were passed to him, like floating autumn leaves by the ensemble. This was a real moment of poignancy. 
The stand out stars of the show were the two Christophers, played on separate nights by Mollie-Sue and Beth. With an incredible amount of lines to learn, both girls carried the whole production with such professionalism. In both performances, the audience were beautifully moved and rooting for Christopher as he stepped into the unknown and learnt more about his past.
The supporting cast were equally brilliant: Chloe as Christopher's father, Evie as his mother, Anastasia as his teacher Siobhan and Bea, Megan and Isla as the thoughts inside his head. All the students did incredibly well. And we mustn't forget the crew: sound, lighting, projection and stage management were all led by students too.
This production really highlighted what is possible with theatre in school, the quality and complexity of what young people can achieve was fantastic. As Mr Carter said, "I forgot I was watching a school show; I thought I was in the West End!"
A huge thank you to Head of Drama, director and producer Ms Wey and to Ms Hill and Mr Brett for their support.
Brand New Anime Club
Did you know that manga is not just a stunning art form, but also a vibrant culture rooted in Japan? At Ash Manor, our Y7 talented artists are showcasing their skills and passion for this incredible tradition! During our sessions, enthusiastic origami artists like Emily, lead engaging tutorials, sharing their techniques and tips for creating everything from delicate cranes to intricate flowers – folding their way to fun and friendship!
This week, the spotlight was on Carol, who led an amazing manga tutorial that left everyone inspired. Every Monday students take turns refining their drawing techniques, sharing tips, and exploring the dynamic world of Manga!
An exciting new adventure for some… chopstick challenges and competitions! Some of our members are just starting their journey with chopsticks, but fear not! Our talented student Leela, is stepping up to guide everyone, showing off her skills and making it a blast for all. Why is this important, you might ask? Well, we're gearing up for an amazing sushi tasting event, and we want everyone to be fully prepared in order to enjoy every delicious bite! 
Liliana was on a mission to master the art of chopsticks, and look at Liliana go! With a little guidance from a pro, she's finally got the hang of it and is feeling truly triumphant!
This week for our Show and Tell section, our very own Darcie is taking the spotlight with a dazzling costume that represents one of her favourite anime characters, Shinobu Kocho, from a popular Japanese anime series called Demon Slayer. Students gathered round whilst Darcie shared the story behind her character choice and explains what makes them so special to her. 
Manga Club meets every Monday lunch time in the MFL block with Ms Garcia. Any new members are very welcome to join.
Previous Blogs:
Remembrance Week 15.11.24
Cadets out in the Field 15.11.24
PE Blog - Autumn 2024 11.11.24
L&T Blog 22.10.24
Year 9 Geographers Explore the Tropical Rainforest 19.10.24
Cadet RSM Neame and WO2 Chalmers Honoured 17.10.24
PD Day 15.10.24
Brooklands 11.10.24
Silver Duke of Edinburgh 7.10.24
Community and Excellence on show at Open Evening 30.9.24
Geography Year 11 GCSE Residential Field Trip 23.9.24
