Drama
Our Drama students are dynamic, independent and entrepreneurial – confident in performing, creating, directing, designing, teaching and producing performances for a wide range of contexts. Our lessons are varied, exciting and involve acting and research.
We have a history of outstanding results in Drama. In 2022 students achieved some of the best results in the school, with 88% of A Level students achieving an A or A* grade and 93% of GCSE students achieving a grade 4-9.
Annually the Drama department stages a school production at the local theatre.
The Arsonists
In December 2021, students performed in The Arsonists, written in 1958 by Max Frisch.
Emil & the Detectives
In January 2020 our Drama students (Year 10 to Year 13) performed Emil and the Detectives written in 1929 by Erich Kastner.
Key Stage 3
Course Content
Year 7
- Darkwood Manor – role play, sound & atmosphere
- Stimuli & Stories – devising skills, empathy, response to a stimulus, movement, storytelling, theatre design
- Greek Theatre – ensemble movement, mask work, chorus & staging
- Commedia Dell 'Arte - characterisation, comedy and improvisation
- Live Theatre Analysis - understanding theatre design and analysing live performance
Year 8
- The Truth is Out There – comedy, script work, characterisation & physical theatre
- Romeo and Juliet - character motivation, stage fighting, performance structure & sound design
- Treasure Island - rehearsal techniques, chorus & set design
- Joyriders – movement, character and monologues
- Live Theatre Analysis - Understanding theatre design and analysing live performance
Year 9
- Leadership & Power - ensemble movement, physical theatre, text work, response to stimulus, devising skills
- Frantic Assembly – movement, choreography, physical theatre & intention
- Script - how to explore and perform a scripted play, sub text, before time, character objectives & theatre design
- Live Theatre Analysis - understanding theatre design and analysing live performance
How can I support my child through KS3 Drama?
- Ensuring homework is complete
- Taking them to the theatre
- Watching Drama on television
- Looking at their assessment work on Google Classroom
- Talking to them about what they are studying in Drama and their Drama targets
Assessment
Assessment of students' practical work takes place with every topic. Students receive both formative and summative assessment through teacher questioning, their progress with individual and group activities, their devising and directing skills and through regular in class feedback. Homework may consist of development tasks on work completed in lessons, writing up evaluations, reading a script extract or rehearsing for assessments.
Key Stage 4 - GCSE
Exam board: WJEC
Qualification: GCSE
Specification: EDUQAS
Course Content
Students study theatre styles such as Physical Theatre and Brecht’s Epic Theatre to influence their own devised work in preparation for Component 1.
For Component 2 students will perform from a wide range of different plays.
In Component 3 we study the play Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah, adapted by Lemn Sissay. This component looks at all aspects of production from acting and rehearsing to theatre design. Studying Refugee Boy has diversified and expanded our Drama curriculum. The students also study Live Theatre Analysis and evaluate a live performance as part of their exam.
Assessment
Component 1 – Devising Theatre – 40% – Teacher Examiner
- 10% – Practical Performance
- 30% – Written portfolio and evaluation.
Component 2 – Performing from a Text – 20% – External Examiner
- 20% – Practical Performance
Component 3 – Interpreting Theatre – 40% – Written Exam
- 30% – War Horse
- 10% – Responding to live theatre
Recommended websites
http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/drama-and-theatre/
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=national+theatre+discover
https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/resources
https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zbckjxs
Students will need to bring the correct equipment to all their Drama lessons: Pen, pencil, exercise book, Chromebook and any scripts they are currently studying.
ENRICHMENT AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR
There is a strong tradition of fantastic theatre visits, workshops and extra curricular opportunities across the department. Drama Clubs take place at break, lunch and after school. Rehearsals take place at lunch and after school. The department hosts an annual House Drama Competition open to anyone who wishes to compete. The Drama department annually stages a school production and these are positively received by the school and the community of Tring.
The Drama department annually stages a school production at the local theatre; these are positively received by the school and the community of Tring.
Recent and Future Theatre Visits
- Network The National Theatre
- The Wedding Watford Palace
- St George and the Dragon The National Theatre
- People, Places, Things Oxford Playhouse
- Elton John’s Glasses Watford Palace
- Against Almedia Theatre
- The Ferryman The Royal Court
- The Kid Stays in the Picture The Royal Court
- All My Sons The Old Vic
- Nora: A Doll’s House Young Vic
- Vassa Almeida Theatre
- Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-time Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (December 2021)
- East Is East National Theatre (October 2021)
Workshops
- Physical Theatre Workshop Gecko
- Physical Theatre Workshop Frantic Assembly
- Mask/Commedia Dell'Arte Workshop Trestle Theatre
- Director's Workshop Palace Theatre
- Artaud Workshop Palace Theatre
- Brecht Workshop National Theatre
- Backstage Tour National Theatre
DRAMA DEPARTMENT
| Subject Leader | Mrs F Langley (Mat leave) |
| Acting Subject Leader | Miss K Dolder |
| Mr A Cull | |
| Mrs K Scuri | |
| Performing Arts Technician | Miss M Storey |