SCHOOL NEWS
STAFF LEAVERS
ALAN HEAVEN
After 35 extraordinary years inspiring Pocklington ’ s pupils , theatre-goers and colleagues alike , it ’ s time to say the fondest of farewells to Alan Heaven , our wonderful Head of Drama . My boss , my colleague and , most importantly , my dear friend .
When I came for my interview as English and Drama teacher back in 2000 , I first met Alan in the glamorous surroundings of the ‘ Green Room ’ – or , as it was more accurately known , the old basement of the music school ! A small , unconventional , makeshift drama classroom , it was an Aladdin ’ s cave of old props , masks and eccentric costumes . Even in such humble surroundings , I was struck immediately by his vision and energy and I knew I wanted to work with him . Shortly afterwards , the school opened an exciting new theatre , ( now the Tom Stoppard Theatre ), Alan became its Artistic Director and the rest , as they say , is history …
But the truth is , Alan ’ s talent shone through regardless of where he made theatre . Right from the moment of his arrival in 1985 , he was determined to create a culture where every child could experience the joy of theatre and where the arts were valued and celebrated . Out went Charley ’ s Aunt and in came the Mysteries with biker-jacket , chainsaws and rock music . As Mark Rowe ( former Head of English ) reflected on Macbeth ( 1991 ) “ There was a wall of bloodstained blankets ; a wailing chorus of didgeridoos ; Macbeth ’ s feast enlivened by belly-dancing ... It ’ s difficult to convey the salutary shock this had on a rural public school in the late 80s and early 90s !”
In the early 90s - and apparently in the face of some considerable opposition at the time ! - he set up the drama department proper , introducing first A-level Theatre Studies and then GCSE Drama . He was later shortlisted for national Teacher of the Year and his creativity and flair continued to inspire pupils both within and beyond the classroom , with OPs gaining places at RADA , Cambridge Footlights and Rose Bruford as well as on numerous Drama and Theatre university courses . But just as importantly , his inclusive approach ensured that all pupils , whether or not they were a budding thespian , gained confidence and had fun through drama , as this OP sums up perfectly :
“ Alan Heaven was one of those teachers you never forget . A lesson with him was never dull , nor was it predictable ! To be in his presence was to feel inspired and infected with creativity , teaching us not just to act and read plays , but to love the arts and push the boundaries .’ LP
His playful , innovative approach to drama including his notorious end of term hide and seek games delighted all . Those of you who have attempted to venture through the TST maze of corridors to Alan ’ s office no doubt will have spotted book shelves full of classics adorned with quirky objects , amongst them : the infamous dolphin biscuit tin which pupils still fight over to this day ; a Thomas the Tank Engine toy which happened to ‘ choo choo ’ during an A ’ level examiner ’ s meeting ; and a black rat poised suspiciously over the admin board ! Alan ’ s unique take on life is a breath of fresh air and his sharp wit , intellect and creative genius have clearly equipped pupils with life skills which go way beyond any exam syllabus .
Of course , running a theatre is not without its backstage drama and , as Artistic Director of the Tom Stoppard Theatre , Alan is no stranger to running on adrenaline . In fact , his ability to keep a cool head in the midst of chaos is truly remarkable . Over the years the department has dealt with toppling sets , missed cues , fainting students and one particularly memorable occasion when a lighting desk malfunctioned just hours before the grand opening of the theatre by Sir Tom Stoppard himself ! Thankfully it was resolved with minutes to spare and the show went on , with Sir Tom placed firmly in the ( now fully
4 THE POCKLINGTONIAN