Among the famous, notorious and infamous Westminsters brought to life are playwright Ben Jonson, musician Shane MacGowan, and spy Kim Philby. There is also an appearance by Millicent Fawcett, after whom the School’s theatre is named.

Blending history, creative writing, and theatre, The Half tells the story of Michael, a young theatre director attempting to stage Shakespeare’s Henry V. A play-within-a-play, the narrative explores the relationship between characters and actors, drawing attention to Westminster’s rich history and its devotion to education. After a disastrous rehearsal, Michael storms out of the theatre and encounters the ‘ghosts’ of Westminster past, who guide him with wisdom and encouragement. His journey takes him through Ashburnham Garden, in the shadow of Westminster Abbey, into Little Dean’s Yard, and finally to the School’s Chapel, where he meets Henry V himself.

The script was chosen by the Drama Department through a competition inviting A Level pupils from both Westminster School and Harris Westminster Sixth Form (HWSF) to submit entries. The winning piece was written by HWSF pupil, Ava, and then brought to life with the help of professional all-female film company, Foxglove Femmes.

Despite being an on-site project, the film was created as part of a Lower School Expedition, with pupils from the Fifth Form and Lower Shell (Y9 and Y10) joining Sixth Form pupils to bring Ava’s script to life. With only three days to complete the project, the cast and crew were mentored Foxglove Femmes, led by Director and Executive Producer Holly Joyce, who introduced them to the crafts of screen acting and filmmaking. The finished film, accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary by Rayan (Lower Shell, CC), whose group won the competition to create a featurette for the show, premiered to the school community in Millicent Fawcett Hall.

Playwright Ava (Remove, HWSF) said: “I had no idea of the scale the project would grow to, nor the development the idea would undergo. What began as a five-minute film focusing on one character grew into a 15-minute piece with a cast of over 20 students. Working with Holly on the script was an amazing opportunity, and I learned many valuable skills in screenwriting through notes and rewrites. The final script is the product of both Holly Joyce’s and my hard work, and I am so grateful to Holly for pushing my concept further. Shadowing her during casting and on set gave me insight into different filmmaking roles. The film crew were incredibly talented and generous with their knowledge, and it was surreal to see the film on the big screen. I hope it won’t be the last time I see my name in the credits!”

Dash (Remove, HWSF), who played Kim Philby, said: “Working with such a professional crew was honestly very encouraging. It felt like I was contributing to a community effort that everyone took seriously.”

Rayan (Lower Shell, CC), a member of the Actors’ Company and winner of the documentary competition, said: “Working with a professional film team is genuinely eye-opening. Writing a documentary that would appear on the big screen was amazing — the creativity of one person sparked more from another, creating a virtuous cycle of ingenuity. I am very grateful for this opportunity and thank all those who made it possible.”

Westminster School maintains a special partnership with neighbouring Harris Westminster Sixth Form, designed to provide academically gifted young people from all backgrounds in London with outstanding opportunities. Through this collaboration, Harris students can study arts and humanities not offered at HWSF, including A Level Drama and Theatre Studies, which is shared across both schools.