Remembering Amelia Morse 1982-2023

Amelia Morse (Director of Drama at Wellington College from 2014-17) sadly passed away on the 16th December.

Amelia started at Wellington as a drama teacher in September 2007, joining Sarah Spencer, who was Director of Drama. One of her first plays here was the successful Daisy pulls it off before assisting the direction of Les Miserables in 2008, the first of many musicals put on at the school over the years. Jesus Christ Superstar followed in 2009 before she left to pursue acting and more teaching. Amelia returned to Wellington as Director of Drama in September 2014, not least to put on Les Miserables again. A lively production of Grease followed and then a huge cast for Anything Goes in the CLT.

Her attention to detail and push for exceptional standards have influenced drama, both academic and co-curricular and there are many students who will remember her sayings and her vivacious character.

I worked with her on a number of musicals and loved every moment – the performances of Les Miserables this week certainly bring back many happy memories (tinged with sadness).

Simon Williamson, Director of Arts and Music at Wellington College

Amelia always delighted in breaking down the fourth wall, and a notable feature of her time at Wellington was the way she brought drama to the centre of College life. She threw herself wholeheartedly into facilitating student-led productions, as well as organising the annual Inter-House Drama competitions and supporting the student-led Directors’ Shorts. One notable aspect of her time at Wellington, was the way she inspired – and then assisted several students to achieve places at leading drama schools. Amelia was also a wonderful tutor in the Hopetoun, always finding time (despite her busy schedule) for her Sixth Form charges, and balancing her high expectations for them with realistic and emotionally intelligent appreciation of the pressures that all young people face.

Extract from the 2017 Wellington College Yearbook Teaching Valete 

Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this sad time. If you would like to share your condolences please follow this link: Amelia Morse, Obituary