Subjects: Performing Arts (Music; Drama)

Overview

Drama, Music and Dance continue to develop and extend the performing arts curriculum and activities within the school. We are committed to creating opportunities each year where, alongside the excellent specialist work, there can be performances involving all the departments. This has enabled us all to draw from the experience and strengths of the others

Click on the links below to see this term's programme and a review of last term's events:

Music

At A-level, Music is a personal and therefore subjective area, so that the Edexcel specification comes into its own. Styles and genres of classic works, famous, popular, orthodox, as well as radical and experimental music, are opened up for study and their composers’ ideas examined and imitated. Recitals are held from time to time, and there are opportunities to work on extended original pieces for almost any resources, including your fellow students and outsiders. 6th-form trips to concerts allow you to hear music performed live, while at college, the Internet allows you to access the whole Naxos catalogue, including classical, jazz, and world music.

Drama

Drama is a highly popular subject at sixth form level, and is a thriving department within the Faculty of Performing Arts. We have a strong history of students achieving places in the National Youth, and Youth Music Theatres and many go on to train at Drama School. The Drama Prefects run clubs for those in Years 7 - 9 and have directed productions for them. The Technical Prefect supports the full time Performing Arts Technician in all the work for productions

Studying drama in the sixth form college will give you a truly creative opportunity to work as members of a group and independently. The subject uniquely engages with all aspects of society and culture and will give you the skills to work as innovative artist practitioners in your own right.

Facilities

Teaching and performance spaces are in the main school area and comprise the Memorial Hall and the soon to be completed, Sophie Cameron Theatre. The full time technician supports and teaches those of you who want to take the technical options in the A Level and IB courses.

Staff

Head of Drama - Ben Pender BA (Hons) English,  PgDip in Contemporay Literature, King Alfred's College. Winchester.  (Director of Whole School Play and Bathos, the Sixth Form Theatre Company)

Performing Arts Technician - Rebbecca Key BA (Hons) Technical and Production Arts at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.

AS/A Level: Drama & Theatre Studies

The school follows the Edexcel syllabus. Here, you will extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role and the course teaches you to think like directors of theatre. You will also need to write about drama and develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic.

International Baccalaureate Diploma: Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts is one of the IB options. The focus of the course is theatre as an art form. You will explore the diversity of different viewpoints and contexts, as seen through constructed drama and communicated by world theatre practitioners. Throughout the course, you can engage as analyst and practitioner in the exploration of how theatre defines and communicates international cultural understanding and values.

There will be an opportunity to join the Sixth Form Theatre Company, ‘bathos', and take performances out to local theatres and venues.