Play Video NowDrama and Theatre Studies
Drama is offered at GCSE, AS Level and A Level as an exam subject. We work in an open drama studio, which is a wonderful facility - much appreciated by the students.
All courses involve both practical work (acting, directing & design) and theory (studying the work of significant theatre practitioners, studying and performing play texts, and seeing a wide range of performances in the theatre.
Students on all the courses are encouraged to look at texts from a practical perspective - as an actor, director or designer. They also have to perform a short piece to an audience. At AS level it is devised by the students themselves, at A2 the students select an extract from a play they wish to perform. The GCSE course focuses on a range of projects aimed at developing acting skills through improvisation, thematic devised work and text performance. The exam has a 60% weighting on coursework and 40% written exam based on texts studied and performances watched. The standard of performances by the exam groups was excellent this year and provided several evenings of first class entertainment.
In addition to the academic study required on this course there is great opportunity for self-expression, confidence building, collaboration with other members of the group and a chance to develop a love of the theatre. Last year students saw productions at the Drum and Theatre Royal in Plymouth and travelled to Bristol for a show and workshop.
A drama club offers all budding actors in the school a chance to express themselves, learn a little more about stage craft and acting skills, have fun and perform on stage at the end of the year. Recent productions include 'Moulin Rouge', 'Macbeth' and 'Alice in Wonderland'. There is also an annual "House Drama Competition". Themes such as 'Pantomime' and 'The vicar of Dibley' provide highly entertaining evenings with excellent performances from pupils throughout the school.