Drama

Students are introduced to a huge range of drama conventions, and these are used to create effective performances. They will work in groups using their creative talents to organise and develop a number of different performance pieces. They are given the opportunity to develop a number of social skills; these include communication skills, negotiation skills, respect and self-confidence as well as specific drama skills, for example improvisation, tableau and character work. Students work individually and as part of a group and begin to learn how to evaluate their own work and the work of others.

Throughout Year 7,8 & 9 students study:

• Introduction to drama - Characterisation - team/confidence building and a baseline assessment. Managing distractions is a focus. Students will learn about some theatrical devices and will utilise them in performance.
• Commedia Dell'Arte' - Students will be introduced to working in a role, using exaggerated movements and team working skills. 
• Shakespeare Festival – every year 7 will rehearse and perform an abridged Shakespeare play.
• Darkwood Manor - the story deals with a haunted mansion and develops the ability to use tension in performance
• Silent Movies and melodrama - exploring the use of sound effects in silent films and creation of own movies
• Devising - WW2 Forced to fight - Developing Writing in Role, gaining insight creativity towards History.  
• Physical Theatre - Using own selves to create set and props and explore key themes physically
• Blood Brothers - developing ideas around taking the ‘Page to the Stage’
• Introduction to Theatre Practitioners - gaining clear knowledge and understanding of key influences on Drama and utilising the skills into our own work.
• Melting Clocks - exploring surrealism and non naturalistic skills

The Edexcel GCSE in Drama offers a broad and coherent course of study which enables Year 10 & 11 learners to:

• apply knowledge and understanding when making, performing and responding to drama
• explore performance texts, understanding their social, cultural and historical context including the theatrical conventions of the period in which they were created
• develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performances
• work collaboratively to generate, develop and communicate ideas
• develop as creative, effective, independent and reflective learners able to make informed choices in process and performance contribute as an individual to a theatrical performance
• reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others
• develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and processes undertaken in contemporary professional theatre practice
• adopt safe working practices.

The Edexcel GCSE Drama is an exciting, inspiring and practical course.

The specification promotes involvement in and enjoyment of drama, as performers and/or designers. Additionally it provides opportunities to attend live theatre performances and to develop skills as informed and thoughtful audience members.

Through following this specification, learners will be given opportunities to participate in and interpret their own and others' drama. Learners have the option to work practically as performers and/or designers in Components 1 and 2.

Learners will investigate a practitioner or genre of drama, work collaboratively to develop ideas to communicate meaning and experiment with dramatic conventions, forms and techniques to produce and realise a piece of original theatre. They will

also have the opportunity to participate in the performance of an extract from a play text. Learners will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of drama, including their ability to interpret texts for performance, in a written examination.

However, in preparation for this assessment, learners are encouraged to study their chosen text practically as a performer, designer and director.

The WJEC Eduqas A level in Drama and Theatre offers a practical and challenging course of study which encourages learners to:

• Develop and apply an informed, analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding drama and theatre
• Understand the place of relevant theoretical research in informing the processes and practices involved in creating theatre and the place of practical exploration in informing theoretical knowledge of drama and theatre
• Develop an understanding and appreciation of how the social, cultural and historical contexts of performance texts have influenced the development of drama and theatre
• Understand the practices used in twenty-first century theatre making
• Experience a range of opportunities to create theatre, both published text based and devised work
• Participate as a theatre maker and as an audience member in live theatre
• Understand and experience the collaborative relationship between various roles within theatre

• LAMDA (London academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) is offered to all students during our extra curricular time table, offering boys the opportunity to participate in individual Acting qualifications, gaining extra qualifications and skills.
• Drama Therapy is offered to students in year 7 to support self confidence and self esteem. 
• KS4 Club available - Theatre Appreciation 
• All year 7 participate in the Summer Shakespeare Drama Festival in July, where all families are warmly invited to attend.
• Theatre Trips are offered  throughout the year, allowing students great opportunities to become individual Theatrical critics.