Hartismere School

PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED INFORMATION SHEET FOR DETAILS

Years 10, 11, 12, 13. GCSE DRAMA AND A LEVEL DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES - ‘STRANGER THINGS’

Letters now available from Mrs Davy for GCSE and A level candidates only. Please pay by Monday 7th September.

As part of both courses above, the students are required to see a professional production of a play

to write a review for their examination component. I have booked tickets to go and see the production of ‘Stranger Things’ at the Phoenix Theatre, London for Friday 11^th September 2026 at 1:00pm.

Please note that this trip is primarily intended for students who will be studying GCSE and A Level Drama in Years 10 and 12 from September 2026, as well as current GCSE and A Level Drama students who will be entering Years 11 and 13. Should additional places become available, priority will be given to Year 9 students who are considering studying Drama at GCSE from September 2027.

The cost of the ticket and coach fare is £54.00.Our preferred method of payment is by ParentPay in which case there is no need to return the reply slip at the bottom of this letter. If your child is joining us in September, you may pay by cash/cheque, as ParentPay will not be available until the new term. If making payment by cheque (payable to Hartismere Family of Schools) or by cash, please enclose this with the reply slip in an envelope marked “Stranger Things - Theatre Trip” and return to the post box outside pupil services or in the maths corridor.

Should funding for this trip be an issue, please contact the school office on 01379 870315. Please respond by Friday 4 September 2026. The payment is non-refundable. If your child changes their mind and no longer wish to go on the trip, we require at least 7 days prior notice. If we can fill the place, we will refund the cost. If we cannot fill the place or notice is less than 7 days no refund will be given. If your child is ill and unable to go on the trip, we are unable to provide a refund. 

Schedule: Pupils need to be on the coach and ready to leave school at 8:30am on Friday 11th September.

We hope to return to school by 7:30pm.

Pupils need to bring a packed lunch.

Non-school uniform.

Mobile phones are allowed but must be turned off in the theatre.

To purched drinks/ food programme in the theatre usially require card payment.

Pupils may bring money to buy food on the outward journey only.

Yours faithfully

Mrs J Davy

Head of Drama and Theatre Studies

Synopsis:

BEFORE THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN…

Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.

This production contains gunfire audio, loud noises and explosions, haze and smoke, flashing lights and strobe, and strong language. There are depictions of various mental health conditions and disorders.

 Information check list, Q & A’s:

Year groups: Year 10, 11, 12 and 13. GCSE and A-Level Drama & Theatre students.
Ratio of staff to pupils: 1 to 10 (Under 16)

Schedule:

08:20 – Meet at Bus Bay 14. Pupils must not board the coach until instructed by a member of staff.
08:30 – Depart school.
10:00 (approx.) – Service station stop for toilets and refreshments.
No hot food or hot drinks are permitted on the coach.
12:00 – Arrive at the Phoenix Theatre.
13:00 – Performance begins.
Running time: approximately 3 hours, including a 20-minute interval.
16:00 – Performance ends. Return to the coach. A short toilet stop will be made on the journey home.
19:30 (approx.) – Arrive back at school, traffic permitting.
Please note: Parents/carers are asked to keep Bus Bay 14 clear to allow the coach to arrive and pupils to disembark safely.

What should I wear?

Non-school uniform – casual but appropriate and not scruffy. Please wear comfortable, sensible shoes as there may be some walking.
You may also want to bring a small backpack if needed.
Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring sun cream and a sun hat if it is sunny, or a raincoat if rain is forecast.

What should I bring?

Lunch and a packed tea, or money to buy food. We hope to stop at a service station on the way to London, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Money/card for the theatre programme, ice cream or drinks. The theatre is cashless and accepts debit/credit cards and pre-paid cards such as GoHenry.
Mobile phone/camera – permitted on the coach but brought at your own risk. Phones must be switched off in the theatre.
Sketchbook, pen/pencil and notebook – essential for your GCSE/A Level Live Theatre Evaluation.

What time should I ask to be excused from lesson?

You do not need to be excused from lessons, as the trip leaves before the start of school.
Please email your teachers in advance to let them know you will be absent and remember to catch up on any work you miss.

Where do we meet?

Bus bay 14

What time should we be back?

We aim to be back at school by 7:30pm, traffic permitting.
Please bring your mobile phone in case of delays, so you can contact your parent/carer if necessary. Please be aware that rush-hour traffic may cause delays.

What is expected from me?

You are representing the school, so excellent behaviour is expected at all times – on the coach, at the service station and at the theatre.
Mobile phones must be switched off during the performance.
No hot food or hot drinks on the coach.
Follow staff instructions and be respectful of staff and other members of the public.
Keep noise to a minimum so everyone can enjoy the performance.
Remove all litter from the coach before leaving.
Coats and non-valuables may be left on the coach at the driver’s discretion.
Photography and mobile phone use are not permitted during the performance.
Any behaviour that affects the safety or enjoyment of others will not be tolerated and may result in being asked to leave.

Security:

Bag searches may be carried out for everyone’s safety.
No hot food, glass, sharp objects or alcohol are permitted inside the theatre.
Keep luggage and bags to a minimum as storage space is limited.
Hats and hoods should be removed when entering the theatre.

Will we be stopping?

Outbound: We expect to stop at a service station for a short toilet and refreshment break. Food and drinks can be purchased, but hot food and drinks must be consumed before re-boarding the coach.

Return: There will be a 10-minute toilet break, but no food or drinks can be purchased. Please bring enough refreshments for the journey home.

Finally – enjoy the trip! These opportunities are special, so make the most of it.