Drama & Theatre

Introduction 

The Drama Department is based in New Place, a building 50 metres from the main school site. The whole building is dedicated to Drama with purpose-designed classrooms, a costume and props store, theatre library, and a black box studio which is a professional and flexible performance space. The studio is well equipped with a full lighting rig and sound capabilities, and we have a full-time Drama Technician who oversees all shows and works with technical pupils. The Drama Department also has the use of an outdoor Amphitheatre and the Hall. Members of the Drama Department are all active practitioners and have personal experience regarding professional acting, drama school and theatre at university.  

Lower School 

Drama in the Lower School has a practical focus, and all students take part in one lesson of Drama per week. We facilitate a safe and respectful environment for pupils to experience the five Cs of Drama: confidence, creativity, communication, concentration and collaboration. Pupils learn about different styles and genres of theatre, as well as gaining a wealth of important, transferable skills, including public speaking and problem-solving. 

Third Form 

Drama is an option subject in the Third Form, and students who opt to take Drama will have two lessons per week. It is a highly practical course, building on the skills learnt in the Lower School, but with more of a focus on development, refinement and self-reflection. Students will experience some GCSE content in the ‘Performance from Text’ assessment and will spend much time working collaboratively with others. Pupils do not require prior experience to take Drama in the Third Form, provided they have an interest in the subject and enthusiasm to try it out. 

GCSE (Middle School) 

During the study of the Edexcel exam course, pupils will extend their repertoire of performance skills as well as their knowledge of theatrical design and direction. They will develop their analytical and evaluative skills whilst studying live theatre, and will delve into character, relationships and themes whilst studying the set exam text. Students can choose to be assessed as either a performer or a designer in the practical, scripted and devised components. For those who show an interest in the technical side of the subject, they can opt to be assessed as a designer of lighting, sound, costume or set. 

A Level (Sixth Form) 

The Edexcel A Level Drama and Theatre Studies course follows a similar structure to the GCSE course, but is far more in-depth, requires a broader skillset and more practical experience from students. Lessons have a practical focus, but students will delve deeper into the theoretical side of performance, direction and design. Although students will take part in two collaborative exam performances, there is much more emphasis placed on independent work and preparation. As with GCSE, students can choose to be assessed as either a performer or a designer in the practical, scripted and devised components. For those who show an interest in the technical side of the subject, they can opt to be assessed as a designer of lighting, sound, costume or set. 

Co-Curricular 

The co-curricular side of the Drama Department is rich with opportunities for pupils of all ages to get involved in Drama outside of lessons.  

All pupils in First to Third Forms can take part in the Lower School Christmas Production and the Summer Production, which takes place in the Amphitheatre. Students in Fourth Form and above can audition for the Main School Production, which takes place in the Autumn Term. This is often one of the highlights of the school calendar, and we alternate each year between a play and a musical. Recent productions include ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Monster Calls’. The Middle School Drama Club perform at the Welwyn Youth Arts Festival in March, and Lower Sixth Students take a production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. There are also many opportunities for pupils interested in the technical side of theatre to become involved backstage. The department also runs a range of clubs based on students’ interests, such as playwriting, filmmaking and musical theatre. 

Trips/Competitions/Societies 

Our Drama Society, run by both students and staff, ensures events run smoothly. The society is keen to stay abreast of industry developments and looks for opportunities to run new events where possible.  

Throughout the year, the Drama Department organises several theatre trips. Some of these will support pupils in their written exam, whereas other trips are for enrichment purposes. Pupils studying Drama at GCSE and A Level have the opportunity of working with visiting theatre professionals, including companies such as Frantic Assembly, The Paper Birds and Punchdrunk. The Junior House Drama competition, which is open to pupils in First to Third Forms, takes place in the spring term and is led by Sixth Form pupils. Senior House Drama takes place in the second half of the summer term and is open to pupils from the Lower Sixth and Fourth Form. For both competitions, the performances are judged by an external theatre professional in front of a live audience.   

University & Careers 

Progression from A Level Drama and Theatre leads to university degrees, conservatoire training, and creative apprenticeships. The subject’s blend of practical performance and written analysis develops transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, and collaboration, making it ideal for both arts and humanities pathways. Students can also gain hands-on experience by taking part in co-curricular Drama, which will support future work in the creative industries.