Hear from Sally Bruton
Drama and Theatre has an important role to play in the personal and academic development of our students. The skills and qualities developed in Drama, such as teamwork, creativity, leadership and risk-taking are assets in all subjects and all areas of life. Drama and Theatre stimulates the imagination and allows students to explore issues and experiences in a supportive environment.
Aims and Philosophy
The aim of Drama and Theatre teaching in the School is to improve students’ confidence and ability to communicate, and help students through developing a range of skills, to understand themselves and the world they live in. Drama aims to teach students to work creatively – either individually, in pairs or as a team; and to plan effectively and evaluate perceptively. It is also our ethos to reflect the academic rigour in studying Drama. Students learn to evaluate their work and the work of others through an appreciation of theatre and an understanding of the language of theatre.
Students will be taken to the Theatre and will learn how to evaluate their live Theatre experience. End of year performance. Students will be assessed in a short performance which they devise themselves under the guidance of their teacher. They will perform to other Drama students and will be graded on the process and the performance.
Past Theatre Trips:
- Woman in Black, Theatre Royal, Nottingham
- Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
- Matilda, Curve, Leicester
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Royal, London
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination"
GCSE
GCSE Drama is 3 Components – Devising from a given stimulus, Performance from Text and Theatre Makers in Practice.
There are two exams; Performance from Text is practical and involves pupils teaching or performing two sections from a play to a visiting examiner. The other is a written exam where pupils answer questions on a set play that they have studied, then answer two questions on a performance they have seen. The written exam is 1.5 hours. The Exam Board is Edexcel.
Drama demonstrates good communication, groupwork, problem solving, empathy, initiative and more to a prospective employer. If you enjoy working practically on tech or performing, talk to the drama teacher about GCSE.
Subject enrichment includes: Middle and Upper School Productions, Shakespeare Schools project, New Directors’ Season and BrightLights Workshops
A Level
A Level Drama & Theatre is in three Components: Devising using the practitioner Forced Entertainment and stimulus of a chosen text. Text in Performance is a scripted group piece and a monologue or duologue. Finally Theatre Makers in Practice.
The Exam Board is Edexcel, Drama & Theatre and there are two exams – Text on performance is practical, students perform a teacher directed group piece and a self-directed monologue or duologue, or students can take the technical route for either or both option. Theatre Makers in Practice has two Sections. Section A: students write a Live Theatre Evaluation of a play seen. Section B is two questions answering one as performer and one as a designer on Accidental Death of an Anarchist which is a chosen set text. Section C is answered as a director, applying the immersive techniques of Punchdrunk Theatre Company to the set text of Woyzeck.
Drama requires a creative mind-set, motivation and the ability to communicate effectively. What it says to a prospective university is that you can present yourself confidently, analyse text for meaning and have the resilience to respond to constructive criticism.
Complimentary subjects are English, History, Psychology, Sociology, Art, Religious Studies and Politics. Potential careers using Drama & Theatre are Lawyer, MP, Actor, Designer, Director, Teacher and Lecturer.
Subject enrichment includes Upper School Productions, Shakespeare Schools project, New Directors’ Season and BrightLights Workshops