Drama
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” Oscar Wilde
Head of Department
From Shakespeare to Neilson, from Brecht to Bennett, from Marlow to Ravenhill, the Drama department offers a full range of theatrical experience to its actors and audiences alike. With a long tradition of theatrical excellence behind us, we pride ourselves on exploring challenging texts from both the classics and from modern writers which will push both the academic and performance boundaries of our students. We believe that involvement in Drama generates the most rewarding engagement in personal development and social skills.
All pupils are taught Drama in the Lower School and it is a popular and successful option at GCSE level. They are all accommodated in our newly extended and refurbished teaching suite which includes two fully equipped studio spaces, technical, costume and make-up workrooms as well as a specialist Speech and Drama room. At KS3, students follow a course which includes six units of focus: skills, history of theatre, issue-based work, technical theatre, script and style or improvisation. They are encouraged to respond, create and perform, working in groups and building up their skills base and their confidence.
We have recently changed to the Eduqas GCSE Drama course (Sept 2016) having enjoyed considerable success in previous specifications in both practical and written units. GCSE students take part in regular performances to family and friends throughout the school year and an increasing number of pupils are choosing technical theatre as their area to focus.
At A Level, we follow the Edexcel Drama course and have consistantly acheived excellent results. Many of our pupils have gone on to develop their careers in drama through university degrees and /or specialist Drama School training.