37 Plays is a new national playwriting project led by the RSC and our partner theatres. We are seeking the stories of our times: the comedies, the tragedies and the untold histories. We invite anyone in the UK of any age who would like to write a play to join us over the next 12 months - now is the time to tell your story. The chosen 37 plays will be performed script-in-hand across the UK and online in autumn 2023. Submissions close on 27 January 2023. The Royal Shakespeare Company has launched a quest for new plays that reflect our age to mark the 400^th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio in 1623.

There are to be 37 plays matching the number of published Shakespeare plays, and they can be in any form from five act plays to monologues and can be performed on stage, in classrooms, on the street or in new formats, and by both established and first time writers writing comedies, tragedies and “untold histories of our time”.  https://37plays.co.uk/   

       

                 

         

Enrichment in Drama  - Drama Leaders and Arts Award

The Drama Leaders in Y9 and Y10 have completed their Drama Leader training and done an amazing job of launching VIBE Drama Clubs to Y7 and Y8. 
Year 9 Drama Leaders have led the Year 7 Vibe Drama and have been exploring Mask Workshops and are creating a short performance that will be performed at the end of term in a VIBE Celebration Event.
Year 10 Drama Leaders have led the Year 8 Vibe Drama and have been exploring a project based on Highly Sprung’s Urban Astronaut.

The Drama leaders also have the opportunity to complete the Bronze or Silver Arts Award.

Arts Award assesses how young people develop in their chosen arts activities rather than achievement of a specific skill level and it can earn a Level 1/Level 2 national qualification. Students will work independently to create their own portfolio about their interests and their progress with guidance from Mrs Hill and Ms Murphy. At Bronze and Silver level, young people take an active part in the arts as well as experiencing the Arts as audience members. They create personal arts portfolios in the format of their choice to record their experiences, including research into an artist they admire and sharing their skills with others. They collect and record evidence of everything they do along the way. Students work independently on their portfolios with the support of an Arts Award Advisor. Both Mrs Hill and Miss Murphy are qualified Arts Award Advisors.               

Year 7 & Y8 Drama
Students in KS3 are following a programme of learning that explores an introduction to Drama. As part of the course they have been established relationships within the group to create an effective group ensemble and complete activities that help them to build their confidence as a group and learn:
How do we work well collaboratively?
How do we use stage space?
How do we use physicality?
How do we use voice?

Year 7 students have explored a range of drama strategies from Still images, Thought-tracking and Transitions through to exploring Narration and Chorus work. Students explored the Greek Myth. Oedipus and the Sphinx and they have also explored Genre and created a variety of interpretations of The Three Little Pigs.

Year 8 students have explored different approaches to creating devised performance work through spontaneous improvisation to script work. They have created their Pantomime performances inspired by Mischief Theatre

Year 9 GCSE Drama students have been performing their devised performances that are based on The Island by Armin Greder. They have explored approaches to devising used by different practitioners including Frantic Assembly, Bertolt Brecht and Steve Berkoff. They will be performing their work to each other in a celebration of performances on Thursday 8 December.

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. Students will be performing in the Spring Term.

Year 10 & Year 12 Theatre Visit Noughts and Crosses
Letters have been issued for the theatre visit to see Pilot Theatre’s matinee performance of ‘Noughts and Crosses’ at The Belgrade Theatre on Thursday 26 January 2023. This trip will prepare students for their GCSE and A-Level Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice examination which is worth 40% of their final grade; consequently we strongly advise that they attend.

The coach will depart from NLS at 12.50pm. Students will need to bring a packed lunch with them or purchase their lunch from the canteen at break time. Students entitled to a free school meal can also collect their lunch at break time. We will confirm nearer the time what time we expect to return. Students will be wearing their school uniforms on this trip as it in school time. Students will need to make the necessary arrangements to be collected from school.

Year 11 GCSE Drama Students have been busy preparing for their Component 3 exam this term
There are two areas of focus. 
1. Study of one complete performance text.
2. A live theatre evaluation.

Section A: The Crucible by Arthur Miller Students will practically explore a set text in order to be able to answer short and extended response questions. These questions will focus on decisions made as a performer, a director and a designer. An extract from the chosen set text will be provided in the exam paper. Students will have access to the text in school but you may wish to purchase a copy of the text to support your son/daughter with their learning beyond the classroom. The edition that the exam board will use in the examination is:

Arthur Miller The Crucible Methuen Student Edition ISBN 978-1-4081-0839-0
Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Drama Revision Guide ISBN 9781292131986
Drama Revision Workbook ISBN 9781292131979

Section B Live Theatre Evaluation students had the opportunity to revise their notes based on the performance they saw in Y10 of  ‘Blood Brothers’ at The Birmingham Hippodrome. This trip prepared students for their GCSE Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice examination which is worth 40% of their GCSE. Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.