Drama

Drama is varied and complements other areas of the curriculum. All boys take part in a year group production each year and theatre club enables enthusiasts to develop backstage skills.

Good Schools Guide

The teaching of Drama allows the boys to develop in three specific areas:

• Theatre skills: the curriculum is developed to include a range of theatrical skills including creativity, performance, design and evaluation
• Broadening cultural awareness: by covering a range of historical periods and theatre styles, the boys have opportunities to develop their wider cultural understanding.
• Personal development: through a range of lesson activities, boys have opportunities to improve confidence, vocal projection, team work, negotiation, creativity and self-evaluation.

Drama lessons provide the boys with an outlet for emotions, thoughts and ideas that they might not otherwise have means to express. The department prides itself on being inclusive by providing opportunities within the subject for all boys in Year 3 through to Year 8. Drama establishes lifelong skills such as public speaking, teamwork, problem solving and social interaction – skills which are essential to the modern day workplace. It also encourages tolerance and empathy by allowing the boys to look at the world through the eyes of others. We support access into other areas of the curriculum through themes, texts and topics linked across subjects.

Once boys are in the senior years (7 and 8) they develop their creative and reflective skills at a deeper level. Year 7 boys complete Arts Award Silver, a Level 1 qualification from Trinity College, London. Through this award they explore the arts through participation, research and observation as well as sharing their own arts skills with others. Boys can choose from a range of disciplines across the arts (Music, Art and Technology) to complete their award. In Year 8, there is a deeper focus on the analytical and evaluative approach to Drama. This is facilitated through textual exploration (studied as performer and designer) linked to important social or historical contexts.

Every boy has the opportunity to take part in a year group production every year. The school play is a wonderful way for boys to develop their confidence, celebrate their talents and share their hard work with friends and family. Each play is also supported by Theatre Club, made up of boys from Year 6-8 with a passion for theatre and an interest in back stage work. The weekly club helps boys develop skills in a range of backstage skills such as lighting, sound, makeup, stage management and set design.

Co-curricular opportunities include LAMDA, provided by an external tutor, where boys regularly achieve distinction in their communication exams, as well as visits to the theatre and visiting workshop actors working with the boys in School.