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Lancing Shines in Guys & Dolls
Thank you to our two pupil reviewers for their fabulous reviews of our recent production of Guys & Dolls: This ambitious production of Guys & Dolls was full of energy and charm, imbued with a clear love for the classic 1950 material. From opening number to curtain call, it showcased the remarkable talent of the […]
3 December 2025
Sir Christopher Hampton Returns to Lancing College for Annual Film Festival
Written by Mr Matt Smith, Director of Drama and Dance It was a joy and a privilege to welcome back distinguished screenwriter, playwright, translator, director – and alumnus – Sir Christopher Hampton (Second’s 1959 – 1963) for the second House Film Gala in early October. The occasion celebrates the originality, creativity and talent of Lancing […]
17 October 2025
Bringing ‘The Dumb Waiter’ to Life, by Albie and Monty T
Written by Albie and Monty T Performing in The Dumb Waiter together was an interesting experience for both of us. We’ve obviously spent nearly our whole lives together as identical twins, so having that as a groundwork made the initial rehearsals in our living room relatively easy. Really interesting, unusual theatre – the actors were […]
16 October 2025
Pupils Take to the Stage for the First Ever Lancing College Cabaret Show
Thursday 20 March was the launch of our first-ever Musical Theatre Cabaret Show. Across two unforgettable evenings, our talented students transported audiences into the vibrant world of musical theatre, delivering show-stopping performances filled with passion and flair. From high-energy dance numbers to breathtaking solos, this inaugural showcase was a true celebration of Lancing’s creativity and […]
17 April 2025
The Lord Of The Flies – A Production by Lancing College
When I heard that the Lancing theatre was showing an immersive performance of The Lord of the Flies, I was excited and intrigued to know what the experience was going to be like and how it would be achieved in our theatre: I was not disappointed. The intense and vivid imagery created by the superb […]
7 April 2025
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”: Lancing College’s Great Production of Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night, a play rich with questions of mistaken identity, layers of gendered confusion, and the comedy of romantic chaos was recently brought to life at Lancing College. On a dark Tuesday in March, Mr Smith’s captivating production injected a certain excitement, one could even call it a ‘Midsummer madness’, into the evening. The success […]
1 April 2025
The Bancroft Play 2025: The Jellyfish Effect
Each year, Lancing College celebrates student creativity through the Bancroft Play, an annual one-act production written and performed by pupils. Established in memory of Donald Bancroft – an inspirational English and Classics teacher, accomplished short story writer, and passionate advocate for the arts – the tradition continues to foster new talent in playwriting and performance. […]
10 February 2025
Performing Pie-oneers! Lancing Pupils Shine in Cutting-Edge Production of Sweeney Todd
Set against the grim backdrop of 1800s London, the production was led by a commanding performance by Tom C as the titular Sweeney Todd, capturing both the brooding menace and tragic complexity of the infamous barber. Piper S shone as Mrs Lovett, masterfully blending humour and charm with her rendition of The Worst Pies in […]
20 November 2024
Lancing College Hosts Film Festival Gala with Sir Christopher Hampton
Lancing College recently welcomed back distinguished alumnus Sir Christopher Hampton (Second’s 1959-1963) for a special film gala. The event celebrated the creativity and talent of our students, featuring the much-anticipated screening of the 2024 House Film Festival. Sir Christopher, an acclaimed writer, director, and double Oscar winner, funded the project and played a key role […]
18 October 2024
Drama Students Shine in Dynamic Production of ‘Us And Them’
Lancing College’s talented drama students kicked off the year with a powerful production of Us And Them, a dynamic play by David Campton that delves into complex themes of division and conflict. The performances not only showcased the students’ acting abilities but also highlighted their dedication to mastering the art of stagecraft. Us And Them […]
15 October 2024
2024 Evelyn Waugh Lecture with Sir Gregory Doran
We were honoured to welcome Sir Gregory Doran as our guest for the 2024 Evelyn Waugh Lecture. Sir Greg, the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at the University of Oxford, was knighted in the 2024 New Year’s Honours for services to the Arts. An outstanding Shakespearian with an illustrious career, he was Artistic […]
14 June 2024
Alice in Wonderland en Promenade
At Lancing College, the grounds have long been a source of wonder and inspiration for pupils and visitors alike. Recently, the Third and Fourth form students took this sense of enchantment to new heights with their performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Adrian Mitchell. A Magical Exploration of Lancing […]
28 May 2024
Boeing Boeing has Audience in Stitches!
This term for three nights the performance of Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti, filled the theatre with pure joy and laughs! Following the story of playboy Bernard Lawrence and his ingenious plan to juggle his three flight attendant girlfriends, we watch his carefully organised ruse unravel due to the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art jet. […]
14 March 2024
Donald Bancroft’s Legacy Lives On
The Bancroft competition, set up in 1999 in memory of former College teacher Donald Bancroft, gives Lancing pupils the opportunity to showcase their talent by writing and directing their own work. Donald Bancroft taught at Lancing from 1946 until 1978, latterly as Head of English and Head Master’s Assistant (1960 – 1978). He was not […]
12 March 2024
Junior Play: Private Peaceful is a Huge Success
Last week our sensational Junior Drama students took to the stage for their moving and thought-provoking performance of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful. In the play, the Peaceful brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have a tough rural childhood facing the death of their father, financial hardship and a cruel landlord. Their fierce loyalty to each other pulls them […]
7 June 2023
Upper Sixth Pupil wins Bancroft competition
The Bancroft competition, set up in 1999 in memory of former College teacher Donald Bancroft, gives Lancing pupils the opportunity to showcase their talent by writing and directing their own work. This year’s winner was Upper Sixth Former Theo C with his play Snapshots. Runner-up was Poppy S (also Upper Sixth). The play Snapshots was performed in the College Theatre at […]
14 February 2023
The Magic of Anything Goes
Nothing can compare to the unique magic of Anything Goes. From the moment the music began it was impossible not to be entirely enthralled by the production and this continued throughout, each scene retaining a distinctive quality. Reno Sweeney, played by Millie P, amazed the audience from the moment she arrived. Her confidence and talent introduced us to the […]
20 November 2022
Junior Founder’s Day Plays
As part of the Founder’s Day Arts Week, this year the Third and Fourth Forms performed two plays directed by Matt Smith. Jason and the Argonauts, by Kerry Frampton & Mal Smith, is Splendid Productions’ adaptation of the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes, written in the 3rd century BC. It is a classic quest in […]
5 June 2022
Pupil wins Playwriting Competition
The Bancroft competition, set up in 1999 in memory of former College teacher Donald Bancroft, gives Lancing pupils the opportunity to showcase their talent in different areas of the performing arts. The College’s Drama Department hosts a wealth of plays and performances every year. Since joining Lancing, I always looked forward to watching the winning plays of […]
1 June 2022
Dance the Night away …
Back in May members of Lancing’s Vortex dance company went to a performance by BalletBoyz, a contemporary dance company, at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing. I had the great pleasure of seeing BalletBoyz: Deluxe with the College’s boys’ dance troupe, Vortex. I was amazed at the energy that each of the performers brought to the […]
30 May 2022
Chicago – The Musical
At the beginning of March Chicago – The Musical was performed by a large cast of actors and musicians from Lancing’s Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Forms. Members of the cast have written about their experience: ‘This year’s musical Chicago turned out to be a great success! Enjoyed by many parents, staff, and pupils, Chicago hit it […]
15 March 2022