Drama
Drama at Senior School is an imaginative and inclusive subject designed to inspire students as performers, collaborators, and creative thinkers. The curriculum fosters confidence, ensemble skills, and an appreciation of drama as both an art form and a tool for personal expression. Through a diverse range of theatrical styles, texts, and performance opportunities, students from Year 7 to Year 11 are supported in developing key transferable skills while gaining an understanding of theatre’s cultural, social and historical relevance.
Year 7
In Year 7, students are introduced to the core building blocks of Drama through a strong emphasis on teamwork, ensemble development, and imaginative play. In the Autumn Term, these are explored through games and practical group work, culminating in the immersive Darkwood Manor project, which develops characterisation, dramatic tension, and role-play using storytelling and techniques such as hot seating. In the Spring Term, students study Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, learning to understand Elizabethan theatre and interpret scenes through rehearsal and performance. The Summer Term introduces physical theatre via movement, mime and Trestle mask work, with a focus on non-verbal storytelling, physical awareness, and ensemble performance.
Year 8
Year 8 builds on the foundational skills from Year 7 with a focus on style, genre and devising work that explores real-world issues. The Autumn Term begins with a Silent Movies unit, developing physical and comedic performance through slapstick and visual storytelling. This is followed by a reflective exploration of Private Peaceful and WWI poetry, using documentary and experiential drama to explore historical themes. In the Spring Term, students examine identity, migration and belonging through extracts from Willkommen, Refugee Boy and the story of Malala Yousafzai, introducing testimonial theatre. The Summer Term explores status through Commedia dell’arte and concludes with a Soap Opera unit, where students devise and perform original narratives using performance skills, character development and audience awareness.
Year 9
In Year 9, students transition into more advanced theatrical exploration, preparing for GCSE-level work through thematic and historical study. The Autumn Term focuses on Theatre History, covering Greek Theatre (including Antigone and The Bacchae), Shakespearean theatre, and Stanislavski’s naturalism through A Doll’s House. In the Spring Term, they study 20th-century practitioners including Brecht, Artaud, and the Absurdists, experimenting with form, style, and political theatre. Alongside this, they begin a practical and analytical study of DNA by Dennis Kelly, following a structure similar to the Eduqas GCSE. The Summer Term is dedicated to devising, with students creating original performances based on stimulus materials and practitioner influence, developing reflective portfolio writing and exploring physical theatre companies such as Gecko and Frantic Assembly. Where possible, a live theatre review project is included.
GCSE Drama
The GCSE Drama course spans two years and develops students’ creative, practical and analytical skills through a balance of performance and written work. In Year 10, students begin with a focus on devising, dramatic structure and character development, responding to stimuli and exploring a range of theatrical styles, genres and practitioners. In the spring, they undertake an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, exploring the text through rehearsal, character analysis and design elements. During the summer, students stage key extracts from Macbeth and begin preparation for the written examination, including Section B: Live Theatre Review, while also starting work on their official Component 1 Devised Drama project.
In Year 11, students complete Component 1 with a devised performance, portfolio, and evaluation. The Spring Term focuses on Component 2, where students rehearse and perform two extracts from a published play for an external examiner, while also continuing preparation for the written paper’s Section A (Macbeth). The final term is dedicated to exam preparation, with revision of set texts, live theatre analysis, mock assessments, and targeted support to ensure students leave the course with a strong foundation in both performance and dramatic theory.
Extra-Curricular Activities and Enrichment Overview
The Drama Department offers a vibrant programme of extra-curricular opportunities designed to enrich students’ creative experiences beyond the classroom. Regular theatre visits complement curriculum learning and support the development of live theatre review writing. In recent years, students have attended performances at the National Theatre, Barbican Centre, Lyric Hammersmith, and a variety of West End venues, offering exposure to diverse theatrical styles and professional practice. The annual Senior School production provides a platform for students to develop live performance skills in acting, singing, and choreography, with projects ranging from collaborative musicals to more traditional plays. Additionally, House Drama and House Speech & Drama events encourage pupils to explore devising, poetry, prose, and the spoken word in a celebratory, community-focused environment. Visiting practitioner workshops featuring companies such as Gecko and Frantic Assembly, as well as specialist Musical Theatre professionals broaden students’ practical experience and deepen their understanding of contemporary performance techniques.
LAMDA (Speech & Drama)
LAMDA is offered to pupils across both the Junior and Senior School, providing an excellent opportunity to develop confidence, communication and performance skills. Pupils can opt to take part in group Speech & Drama sessions, which are delivered as an extra-curricular activity during lunchtime or after school. Each group works towards a formal LAMDA examination in the Summer Term, with a focus on achieving personal progress in areas such as acting, verse and prose, and public speaking.
