Drama and Theatre

We develop students’ analytical, theatrical and design skills for further study in dramatics. It is also extremely useful in improving spoken communication skills – essential for any future career or further learning.

A Level Curriculum

The emphasis in A Level Drama is on acting skills and effective communication. Pupils can also choose to be examined in set design or costume design. Various design and technical skills are addressed throughout the course, regardless of the chosen route.

Students will extend their ability to create drama and will study plays, playwrights and live theatre productions. All candidates will take part in theatre productions, and also be required to write about plays and live theatre. Students develop their powers of analysis to become informed critics.

Topics include:

• Component 1: Devising
• Component 2: Text in Performance
• Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice

Written homework includes assignments such as writing-in-role, drawing and justifying ideas for theatre costumes, scriptwriting, and documenting and evaluating the practical creative process. Homework is designed to thoroughly prepare A Level students for examinations and coursework.

Curricular Trips

Learning how to evaluate live theatre is an essential part of Drama and Theatre A Level. Girls have opportunities to visit local productions at the famous Crucible and Lyceum Theatres, as well as ones further afield such as at the RSC theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. We also organise trips to experience musicals and performances in London’s West End. Seeing live theatre is essential for developing a critical and analytical mind, helping students to view theatre in a different way and to develop their own performance styles.

Drama Studio

Polished performances take place in our state of the art drama studio, fully equipped with stage space, sound and lighting, a backstage area and seating for live performances.

It’s a fantastic space to hold performances which A Level drama students have crafted and polished.

Students can also make use of various digital technologies in their performances, as they hone their production skills, planning lighting and sound effects to emphasise moods, emotions or other experiences.

Co-curricular Activities

Drama Clubs and Competitions

In addition to curriculum drama, there are lunchtime drama clubs available to all pupils. A Level students and Drama Prefects have a chance to engage with younger members of the school, learn about theatre skills and can put on productions of plays in the drama studio.

We are always on the lookout for competitive opportunities for our A Level students and encourage our students to take part in any competitions that they become aware of. Competitions are a fantastic way to develop new skills and gain confidence in Drama and Theatre. We also support our advanced performers when taking part in productions away from school with dramatics groups in the local community.

Public Performances

The annual school play or musical is an exciting event in the school calendar that involves pupils from every year of our Senior School. Past productions have included: The Importance of Being Earnest, Wind in the Willows, Matilda and Alice’s Wonderland.

Auditions are open to all years and the annual school play presents a fantastic way for A Level drama students to engage with and support younger members of the school. All roles are important, on-stage and off-stage with opportunities for A Level students to be involved in costume and stage design, technical roles and production management.

Other performance events are run throughout the year across the Senior School including our annual Celebration of the Arts. These provide girls with the opportunity to practise their public performance skills by performing monologues or duologues to an invited audience of friends and family.

The Drama and Theatre department also organises theatre skills workshops which take place both on and off site.

LAMDA Qualifications

Our A Level students can also participate in LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) lessons which take place during break and lunchtime sessions. LAMDA qualifications and are available in:

• Solo acting
• Duologue acting
• Group acting
• Devising Drama
• Musical Theatre