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| All Work and no play make Jack a dull boy! |
| At HTS our students are extremely hard working, regularly putting in 12 hour days. However we also believe that to be a rounded person (therefore making you a better actor) drama education should include a social element. Working in theatre is all about learning to work in a team, and at HTS we take this aspect of your training as seriously as all the technical side.
The House System Just as many of you would have experienced at school, HTS has four houses – all of which compete for the annual house cup. On commencing the course you will be allocated a house. Unlike school, house points are collected throughout the year, and can only be collected for things which have nothing to do with your academic studies! Just as we don't believe in students competing against each other for roles, etc, we also recognise that developing a competitive spirit is essential for success in this profession, just as taking responsibility as a member of a team is imperative to your ultimate success. House points are available every morning in registration – where there is the daily news quiz! To be a successful actor you should be aware of the world and environment around you – keeping up to date with current affairs is a small part of this. House points can be lost by breaking certain college rules eg having your mobile phone on in class.
During every Summer term there is a ‘team' day timetabled – where the entire college takes part in such surreal events as the annual treasure hunt (often ending in a pub, or in the Principals garden having a barbeque), the inter-house rounders tournament, and of course no college life would be complete without the inter-house cake making competition! Whilst all of the above might first strike you as odd – just think about it for a moment. Any show that you ever perform in will rely on you being able to work as a team member. Any show is only as strong as its weakest link. To understand the importance of the individual amongst the team, you have to experience team spirit! It's understanding that your actions will have repercussions. One actor ‘drying' on stage affects the show as a whole. Personal responsibility can be learnt in the strangest of ways! Events
Besides the ongoing house cup competition there are many other social events that take place in HTS throughout the year. One of the many advantages of being a smaller college is that social events can include every student – not just the chosen few! For example at Halloween it has become a tradition for the 3 rd years to ‘borrow' the college building for a Saturday evening – transforming various rooms into Hitchin's own ghost ride. Ending, as any good college event should, with a large party, Halloween will never be the same! On the first week of any academic year we have a college trip – a day out to a place of theatrical interest. This trip is dual purpose: Firstly it acts as a bonding exercise for the entire college, and secondly it instils the necessity for historical research into our students. The highlight of the HTS calendar though has to be the Graduation Ball. Held in a marquee in the Hitchin Priory this is a chance to really dress to impress, whilst seeing the graduating year collecting their well earned diplomas. Unlike many other colleges the HTS Graduation is attended by all students, not just the graduating year and their parents. It's also a chance for ex-students to come back and touch base with us. There are too many social occasions to list – just to say that despite being a small college….. our students certainly live it large!
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