Drama

Drama Extra-curricular Programme

The Drama Department is a very active and energetic team. Large numbers of students wish to study both A Level and GCSE. Extra-curricular commitment from staff in Drama is essential and this is reflected in both our results and our students’ passionate approach to the subject.  The department ethos is based on ensemble work: our recent production of ‘Oh What a Lovely War’ had a cast and crew of over 250 students. The Drama department is committed to giving students excellent theatrical experiences in contemporary theatre. Each year we seek to extend their learning through high quality school productions. Recent performances include Knee-high’s ‘The Wooden Frock’, Marlowe’s ‘Dr Faustus’ and our production of Hideki Noda’s ‘Red Demon’  which we then took to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  We regularly take students to the theatre in London, Warwick Arts Centre and surrounding theatres to give them a varied theatrical diet. This year’s visits have ranged from Robert LePage’s 10 hour epic play ‘Lypsync’ to Knee-high’s playful version of ‘Hansel and Gretel’. Each year we take our year 13 students on a residential course where they have the opportunity to work with noted theatre practitioners from companies such as Frantic Assembly, DV8 and Complicite. Also in previous years, to further their theatrical knowledge, we have taken our students to France, Spain and Italy.

Work with professional companies

The Department has very close links with the Oxford Playhouse and Pegasus theatre. Many of our students are part of their youth companies. The Department is also very lucky to work closely with Idle Motion theatre Company who regularly offer internships to leaving year 13 students working as actors or technicians working at the Edinburgh Festival and taking part in national theatre tours. Their current piece “The Seagull Effect” involves six ex students from the school and two students from our current year 13 have had the opportunity to work with them, training as sound and projection technicians.

Ellie Hollindale Faculty Leader  Performing Arts