Drama Update - Spring 1
KS3 Drama
Year 7 Drama students have explored House of Secrets (Northwood Hall) This unit of work focuses on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students listen and follow a radio play where they are introduced to two characters who are journalists. Students have had the opportunity to create and develop role-plays linked to the story of North wood Hall as we follow the story of the journalists. Why does Mrs le-Strange want to sell Northwood Hall? What are the rumours and stories linked to the house? What happened in Northwood Hall the night that Mrs Le-Strange’s Uncle died? Students will have the opportunity to create small performances using a range of Drama strategies and creating interesting and believable characters in groups to build up their confidence. The final performance will allow students to devise an ending to the story exploring the genre of mystery, crime and/or horror and and considering how they could interpret the characters through the performer skills.
Year 8 Drama students have explored the play text A Monster Calls. This unit of work focuses on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students have the opportunity to explore extracts from a play from A Monster Calls as a monologue, duologue or group and explore line learning and interpreting the script using physical theatre, chorus and props.
Year 9 GCSE Drama students have been exploring Design and Production Elements. This unit of work focuses on Live Theatre and Students have the opportunity to watch a live performance. Students will consider the production elements in the play including Costume Design, Set Design, Lighting and Sound Design.
Year 10 GCSE Drama students have been working towards a devised performance that is worth 40% of their final GCSE grade. Students work collaboratively in a group as a designer or performer to create a performance based on a stimulus of their own choosing. Topics chosen this year range from the story of Nelson Mandela, a tribute to Queen Elizabeth, the story of Sarah Everard and the story of Alan Turing during the Second World War. We would like to invite parents to watch the Y10 GCSE Drama Devised performances on Wednesday 22 March at 4.15pm. Tickets are available on Parent Pay. Please note that two of the performances explore sensitive themes and issues which may not be suitable for younger members of the family. As part of their GCSE Preparation for their final Performance we are offering Year 10 Drama students the opportunity to rehearse with their groups at break times, lunchtimes and after school by arrangement. Students must sign up for this opportunity so that staff can organise their time. I would be grateful if you could you encourage your son/daughter to attend these supported extra sessions at least once a week as this forms their Drama home learning
Year 10 & Year 12 Theatre Visit Noughts and Crosses
Year 10 and Y12 Drama students attended the live production of Pilot Theatre’s performance of ‘Noughts and Crosses’ at The Belgrade Theatre on Thursday 26 January 2023. The performance was full of high energy and superb story-telling and the students were a credit to the school.n.
Year 11 GCSE Drama Students are currently working on their Component 2 Performances. Students have chosen a Performer or Designer pathway. Each student has chosen a monologue or duologue to perform and designers have chosen their design pathways (Costume, Set, Lighting or Sound) Performers are working on learning their lines and Designers are completing their Design Portfolios. Students will be performing their assessed performances in March.
We like to invite you to attend a preview of your child's Drama examination performance on Thursday 2nd March at 4.15pm in the Theatre. The idea behind this is to give your child an opportunity to perform to an audience before the actual examination so that they can make any improvements and hopefully raise attainment. We are also offering Year 11 Drama students the opportunity to rehearse with their groups at break times, lunchtimes and after school by arrangement. Students must sign up for this opportunity so that staff can organise their time. I would be grateful if you could you encourage your son/daughter to attend these supported extra sessions at least once a week as this forms their Drama home learning.
Y12 A-Level Drama & Theatre
Year 12 Drama students have started to explore different practitioners to create a performance for their Component 1 Devising. They are in the process of researching and creating their devised performances based on a theme linked to the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. This component focuses on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students are introduced to approaches to devising through the exploration of their chosen practitioner as well as continuing to explore a range of Drama strategies. Students will research a key extract and identify their intentions for their group piece.
Enrichment in Drama
VIBE Drama Club Tuesday after school (Drama Rooms C030 C034)
Vibe Drama Club is open to all Y7 and Y8 students and is led by the Y9 and Y10 Drama Leaders. Both Year 7 and Year 8 are exploring improvisation and exploring a scripted story.
On Wednesday 8th February four Year 10 Drama students attended the RSC Ambassador Training Day. The day involved the students working with two RSC Associate Leading Practitioners at Sydenham Primary School. The Y10 students worked alongside Year 4 and Year 5 primary students exploring ensemble skills and building confidence in their leadership skills.
What did you learn?
How to use rhetoric to present my ideas
What did you enjoy?
I enjoyed meeting and working with new people and sharing ideas with primary students
How has the day helped you as a Shakespeare Ambassador?
It’s given me ideas of how I can get involved and inspired me!
The four students were superb role-models throughout the day and a credit to the school. They have started to plan a project for Vibe Drama Club for the Summer Term.