Como parte del currículo del curso de Teatro del Bachillerato Internacional, un grupo de alumnos de V de Media realizó un viaje de estudios a Paucartambo (Cuzco) para investigar sobre la Fiesta de la Mamacha del Carmen que se lleva a cabo todos los años del 15 al 17 de julio. Es la tercera vez que se organiza este viaje y esto demuestra no sólo el creciente interés de nuestros alumnos por las artes escénicas y la cultura peruana, sino también la preocupación del colegio por brindarle a los alumnos oportunidades únicas de aprendizaje para la vida, que además los motiven a la investigación y al contacto con diferentes realidades. Los alumnos tuvieron la oportunidad de formar parte de la fiesta y aprender in situ sobre la teatralidad andina, a través de entrevistas y de la observación directa.

The Theatre Arts Department has always tried to make the students produce their own plays, as a way of representing and understanding the way they think, feel and see the world. This also develops their initiative, creativity and self-confidence, by showing them that what they say is worth listening to. Back in 2003, the students created “Todo queda en familia”, a school play in Spanish about the way our children see family relationships. Then in 2008 the pupils created the one-act play “Nelly’s Guest House” for the BSP Festival, and since then, Newton has become a producer of witty and imaginative plays that reflect the students’ inner world. In our school, the students learn not only how to act, but also how to organize themselves in order to create and produce original plays that appeal strongly to the audience. And “Down to Earth”, a play for children in two acts, is not an exception. Under the guidance of an outstanding group of IB Theatre pupils that have been participating in the school productions for the last six years, the cast of more than 70 actors developed their characters, scenes, costumes and everything they needed, to bring us a story which shows us their fantasy and their way of imagining the possibility of a better world. The play was performed in June, and it had the largest audience ever: 1535 spectators in total, with a full house every night. It was an opportunity to get together all the Newton family, since lots of our younger students from Lower School and even from Early Years were part of our audience. Everybody enjoyed this play, parents, teachers and children alike, and we are sure that every year there will be a new challenge and a greater success, thus making theatre an important part of our school community’s culture.

Departamento de Música tiene también un papel central en la asamblea. Desde su inicio, el acompañamiento del ingreso de nuestras banderas y luego la interpretación de nuestro himno nacional, ya nos conmueve. Enseguida las presentaciones de la orquesta, banda y el coro son como siempre de un nivel musical tan alto, que muchas veces no caemos en cuenta que son niños y jóvenes de corta edad, dirigidos por sus profesores, quienes interpretan esas bellas piezas peruanas.