On stage
All our students are encouraged to take part in musical theatre productions, study drama (including new writing and experimental theatre), and learn dance. Each year we put on eight fully staged productions, supported by members of our Technical Theatre Society as backstage crew, with the Art Department contributing to set and costume design.
We run two dance companies catering for all levels and work closely with the Music Department to deliver a rich, collaborative performing arts experience.
We have our own theatre – the 230-seat Macready Theatre – and offer a third of the seats available free to local primary school children and the residents of Rugby town.
Professional training
Our LAMDA and dance programmes are taught by professionals, ensuring students receive expert guidance and high‑quality training alongside their academic studies.
Our partnerships
We are proud to work in partnership with Motionhouse Dance Circus, Kings International Ballet and a range of professional companies and other arts organisations.
Our drama students also perform annually as part of the National Theatre Connections and Shakespeare Schools Festivals, giving them exposure to national platforms.
Beyond the norm
Our annual Festival on The Close in June (an independent school leader in terms of arts festivals) is run on a professional scale. We also regularly send productions to the Edinburgh Fringe and the Bloomsbury Festival in London.
Our facilities
We have our own theatre, the 250‑seat Macready Theatre; the Temple Speech Room for concerts and other large-scale dance and musical productions; two studio theatres; and a dance studio.
The School also has many beautiful outdoor spaces for performance including The Close.
Performing Arts Scholarships
A Performing Arts Scholarships may be awarded for excellence in Musical Theatre, Dance or Acting (or any combination of the three). You will be expected to show a genuine enthusiasm for Performing Arts and to demonstrate skills in three core values which we use as a benchmark for excellence:
- Positivity and Playfulness
- Desire and Determination
- Team Care
Our mentoring system places each Performing Arts Scholar under the direct supervision of the Head of Co-Curricular Performing Arts with one of our LAMDA or Dance tutors appointed to support each Scholar's personal development and help with preparing for auditions, self-tapes and show reels, as well as coaching towards advanced LAMDA or Dance qualifications up to diploma level.
Our scholars have regular opportunities to develop their skills and widen their experience by seeing touring professional work in our own theatre as well as taking part in a range of masterclasses, workshops and networking events with industry professionals, directors, agents, actors, danceers, musicians, choreographers and designers.
If you are awarded a scholarship, your school fees (including the cost of boarding) may be covered by a means-tested bursary of up to 100%, for which your parents or guardians need to complete an application form.
We currently have 22 Performing Arts scholars.
The Festival on The Close
Our annual Festival on the Close takes place in June and is delivered on a professional scale.
Over five days, Rugby School students, alongside pupils from local schools, take part in a programme of over 200 creative workshops and performances. Activities range from roller-skiing around The Close and learning magic at the Macready Theatre, to picking up instruments for the first time with the Good Hope School Chinese Orchestra in the Temple Speech Room, and tackling ‘Bake Off’-style challenges in the School House kitchens.
Across the festival, the School grounds are transformed into a celebration of creativity and culture. Each evening brings world‑class performances from renowned guest artists, including Manford's Comedy Club with Sara Pascoe, Juke IBIZA Orchestra, Stories and Rhymes with Michael Rosen, West End favourites Showstoppers, STOMP, and the FLAWLESS dance troupe.