Curriculum Statement
Drama is theatre and allows students of all abilities to develop as a person able to take on our mantra – ‘I am a practitioner and I create theatre’. The practitioner being an actor, director, critic, or designer.
Our Drama curriculum focuses on a range of broad key concepts of the roles within the industry relevant to the specific creative task.
As practitioners who create theatre students learn the art of physical, verbal, and written communication. They learn to be ambitious to understand themselves as a character and apply this to an artistic situation. This develops their ability to create, express, communicate and explore ideas and characters/situations/plays in the most creative and academic way.
As a practitioner of theatre, they learn the art of collaboration, the understanding of different theatrical roles and how to apply them in a collaborative situation in our context to create a piece of theatre – a play and/or to perform a play. Through this they learn the art of tolerance – and to accept other people’s ideas and how to compromise to create their artistic intentions, for their plays, costume design, set design, directing or critiquing theatrical work.
Drama encourages the student to consider the world around them and how it influences the world of theatre and how relevant it is to them. Through our critical discussions of the historical and political contexts of a work we aim to develop students who are creative and passionate and love to learn about theatre. They are confident, curious, and resilient and ready to take on any theatrical challenge.
The student’s cultural capital is further enhanced by drawing on these experiences in our drama enrichment programme, of in-house clubs and shows. Our collaborations with theatres through workshops and build a performance residency projects give the students opportunities to perform on q theatre’s stage, giving them a real taste of the world of theatre. Along with going to the theatre to see live work or bringing theatrical work to them in school live or through a digital platform.
The student’s confidence through all our theatrical experiences is developed for the world of work and being a member of society. Being able to speak to colleagues, discuss ideas and give presentations- public speaking. Thus, providing the steppingstones for a possible career in the industry as an actor, writer, deviser, director, designer, critic, a technical role and or teacher.
Who’s Who?
Curriculum Leader:
Drama Teacher:
KS4 and KS5 Courses Offered
GCSE Drama
Trinity Speech and Drama Grade exams (KS5 enrichment)
Online Resources
Resources to support GCSE study:
- Edexcel GCSE Drama syllabus
- BBC Bitesize Drama resources
- Theatre Craft – lighting resources
- The Woman in Black – production information
- An Inspector Calls – production information
- National Theatre – general Drama resources
Drama Department extra- Curricular programme 2022-2023
During the current academic year we are partnering with 3 theatres – this gives our students opportunities to see shows, take part in workshops, learn about stage craft and the chance to perform on a professional stage.
The theatres are;
- The Almeida Theatre – Partnership School
- The Old Vic, – Schools Club member
- The Donmar – shows and workshop programme
Youth Theatre
Youth theatre returned last year after COVID for students from year 7-11. We successfully worked with the Donmar and for one night only COLAHG became The Donmar and students performed a piece inspired by the theatre’s production of Tim price’s Force Majeure at school. This was followed by our successful in-house devised piece THE VOID a look at teenager’s mental health following the pandemic. In the summer term we created a promenade performance around the school. Students were awarded at the end of the year gold silver or bronze awards depending on the shows their performed.
This year we return with a new name and new members. We are now called The Daffodil Ensemble – chosen by the students in honour of a performance ritual of presenting daffodils after performances in March. This year students will be performing a modern collection of monologues and duologues in December, will create a devised piece for March and will perform Shakespeare outside in the summer.
Drama Club
This returns this year for those wishing to participate in Drama activities and will be offered workshops from theatres. It is part run by KS4 students.
Costume Club
Students who would love to learn about designing for theatre can focus on costume and are taught the stages of creating a costume for a character and make it to be worn by the actor on stage. They will be involved in supporting YT performances over the year.