WHY STUDY DRAMA?

See the Drama Prospectus here 

The Drama department is a truly special place. We offer students an experience they cannot get at any other school. Over the last 14 years we have used our amazing industry contacts to broaden our curriculum; from work experience, to masterclasses and backstage visits.

AQA Drama and Theatre Studies is a very popular choice and the department is extraordinarily active in the West End and in our community. Students continue to develop their ability to work as part of a team performing extracts from plays as part of their exam as well as devised work written by them. Plays such as 'The Glass Menagerie' by Tennesse Williams and Henrik Ibsen’s  'Hedda Gabler' are studied for the written exam.  Over the years, N10 Productions, our in-house theatre company, has taken student work to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival - selling out and earning five-star reviews! Year 13 devised productions have transferred to The Arcola Theatre in London. We have a play writing course called New Views working with The National Theatre, which offers sixth form students opportunities to work with professional playwrights. We also run technical theatre training and have invited lighting and sound designers teach our students how to operate theatre equipment in our theatre. We have 3 Drama studios and a fully fitted Theatre space seating 270. Our technical equipment includes computerised moveable lighting which we train students on.

There are mentoring opportunities for sixth form students working with younger students and opportunities to run KS3 clubs. Students go to the theatre fortnightly and also work with a huge range of theatre companies and artists, DV8, Complicite, Frantic Assembly, Vamos Mask, etc and also perform at Alexandra Palace and other renowned venues. We are a partner school of The Almeida, The Old Vic and the Donmar Warehouse so each year we are offered unique opportunities to work with them, have work experiences places at their venues and offer students auditions for their projects.  We ensure EPQ opportunities are available at Key Stage 5 and we have had KS5 students directing and designing shows for the department and for local festivals. We also offer much needed audition support for any students that what to apply to Drama schools or try their luck at getting into places like NYT.

A Level Drama is recognised favourably by all Universities. University statistics show Drama graduates have one of the highest employment rates. This is because the subject develops self-confidence and produces well-rounded, articulate people. Drama and Theatre Studies is an academic A-level considered as an equal and valid subject choice by Oxbridge, Russel group universities and beyond. We have  3 recent Drama alumni currently studying a variety of subjects at Cambridge University.

We are also AQA’s  exemplar centre for top mark A Level group practical pieces in the whole of England. Videos of our students’ work is used by all examiners to benchmark the top grade. 90% of students go on to study a very wide range of Undergraduate Degrees, the majority at Russell group universities; Law, Maths, Geography, Engineering, English, History to name a few. The  A-Level courses also offers several Design options and students can also be examined on costume/set/lighting/directing and sound design if they choose to.

We take our students to the theatre all of the time, in every year group. We see 20 shows during the A level course. In recent years the Year 13  students have been to New York City on a unique ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ trip.  We also hosts Masterclasses which allow students access to Theatre and Film professionals across all disciplines that enriches their curriculum and gives them a glimpse into a possible future career. In recent years we have held masterclasses with film and theatre director Rupert Goold, The Artistic Director of London’s Young Vic  theatre Kwame Kwei Armah, BAFTA-winning writer, actor, director Mackenzie Crook, ‘Come From Away’ Theatre producer Joseph Smith.

Our alumni include Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Jess Glynne, Ray Davies CBE, Sir Rod Stewart CBE, Hollywood actor Ed Skrein, Hollywood film director Dexter Fletcher and many more and over the decades we have cultivated a multitude of talent spanning all areas of the Arts.