Our Drama department aims not only to instil an enjoyment of the subject, but also to nourish their creativity, build their self-confidence, improve their communication skills and develop their facility for empathy and consideration of other people’s views. These values and skills are used to enhance the children’s learning throughout the school. This in turn is augmented through the experience of watching visiting TiE (Theatre in Education) groups in school and visits to a variety of theatres.
Every year a number of our senior pupils take Drama either as a discrete Scholarship exam or as an integrated part of an All-Rounder award to a variety of public schools. Through performing and participating in school productions, pupils are able to gain their Drama Colours or even the coveted Pinewood Honours for particularly outstanding performances.
From as early as Pre-Prep, children are given a flavour of life on stage, with performances across the year, be it the annual Nativity, class assemblies, or a musical play for the children in Years 1 and 2.
Once in the prep school, there is a well-established pattern of productions throughout the year.
In the Autumn Term, Year 7 perform a play (in the last couple of years, they have performed ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Arabian Nights’). This offers the opportunity to stretch the children with unfamiliar language and to challenge them to get under the skin of complex characters in emotionally charged stories. The Year 7 play is a voluntary undertaking (although the opportunity is usually taken up by the whole year), with a guarantee that all children that audition are assured some level of speaking role.
In the Spring Term, all of Year 5 come briefly off timetable for an intensive two-day theatre workshop that culminates in a performance to parents (recent years have seen productions of ‘Around The World in 80 Days’ and ‘The Three Musketeers’). Meanwhile, Year 6 rehearse and perform a full musical production over the course of the whole term. The whole year take part, although some opt to build confidence through ensemble work where they can be supported by their peers. Memorable recent productions have included ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mary Poppins’.
The Summer Term sees the Year 4 production (often with a cross-curricular theme), with the whole year taking part in performances that in recent years have included ‘What A Knight’, ‘Jill & Fred’s Most Hysterical Historical Adventure’ and ‘Minotaur’.
Once their CE exams are out of the way, Year 8 come off timetable for a week to complete ‘The Shakespeare Project’, in which they write, direct, costume and perform in a 20 minute adaptation of a Shakespeare play. The brief is to bring the story into the 21st century… Recent examples include ‘Hamlet’ set on Love Island, and ‘Julius Caesar’ set amongst the hype of Barbie vs Oppenheimer! At the end of the Summer Term, Year 8 produce their swansong: Curtain Call. This is a largely self-directed soirée of short scenes, songs, magic, skits and dances, that showcase their talents and celebrate their shared experiences of the school. Whilst participation is voluntary, the children are encouraged and supported to explore their own ideas and interpretations through whatever performance medium they feel most comfortable with.
