AOGA and supporting the St Mary's Ascot Performing Arts Centre Campaign

About the Campaign
THE NEED The much loved Concert Hall - built in 1914 - is no longer able to meet the technical demands of modern day productions and the needs of St Mary's Drama and Music students. Performing Arts play an important part in the girls' lives at St Mary's and an increasing number are making career choices in these fields. Over and above this lies the need for a space capable of accommodating all members of the school - for Assembly, St Cecilia's Day, Shrove Tuesday, large gatherings of pupils and parents as well as theatrical and musical productions. DRAMA Everyone studies Drama in their younger years at St Mary's with many pupils going on to take Drama and Theatre Studies GCSE's and even AS and A Level. School productions are excellent opportunities for developing public speaking, debate, improvisation and team building skills. Girls are actively encouraged to stage their own productions. The technical aspects of Drama such as Stage Design and Management, Wardrobe, Sound and Lighting can also be studied. MUSIC Music is the heartbeat of the school - be it in chapel, in lessons, in lunchtime concerts or larger scale music events. All girls study Music until Year 9 with many of them opting for further music studies with some even choosing Music as their university subject. The Campion Singers - who have sung at the Vatican - sing regularly at Mass. They have joined forces with the AOGA Choir on several occasions at Farm Street Church for Christmas Carol Concerts in aid of various causes. Junior Campion and the Davenport Choir provide other choral opportunities to complement The Campion Singers' work. The School Orchestra will benefit from the extra space that the new Performing Arts Centre will offer while a new concert grand piano will be enjoyed by girls and visiting artists alike. THE PLANS The Performing Arts Centre will include: a purpose built theatre and drama teaching complex a flexible auditorium, balcony and telescopic stage seating - this can in turn accommodate up to 420 people and then be scaled down for more intimate productions a fully equipped drama studio make-up and dressing rooms large foyers for audiences and exhibitions a gallery for art displays wardrobe and scenery storage space professional quality lighting and sound systems in rehearsal and performance areas lighting catwalks and control room with teaching facilities offices and flexible areas. THE LOCATION The Performing Arts Centre will be built on the site of the Gym - now redundant thanks to the new Orchard Centre. THE COST The total cost of the building is Ł5.5 million of which Ł4 million is needed to build the theatre. The school will meet the costs of the drama department and other facilities if Ł4 million can be raised for the theatre. Half of this sum - Ł2 million - has already been pledged by current parents. THE TIMETABLE The School Governors are considering beginning building work this summer. DONOR RECOGNITION All donors to the campaign will be acknowledged on Donor Boards in the theatre - whatever their level of donation. More individual recognition comes by way of naming 240 stall seats with engraved plaques. A Gift Aid donation of Ł7,800 guarantees a named seat. AOGA SUPPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN With a global AOGA membership of over 2000, there is no question that Old Girls could play a vital part in ensuring the successful outcome of this campaign. THE CHALLENGE Any sum raised will be without doubt an achievement and greatly appreciated and valued but if Old Girls succeed in raising Ł0.5 million, the Hospitality Area in the theatre will be known to future generations as "The Old Girls Bar". Let's aim high! Shown below are a few plans for the proposed Performing Arts Centre. These may be subject to revision as time goes on but will give you an idea of what the school is hoping to achieve. Please click on the images for a larger version to open in a new window.

ASCOT OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION

The network for former pupils of St Mary's School Ascot