Drama

“Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it.” – Augusto Boal

“All the world’s a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.” – Sean O’Casey

“Drama is thinking out loud; it develops oral language skills as the child defines, articulates, expresses and verbalises thought in the context of improvised activities “. – (Mc Master J.C ‘Doing literacy’: Using drama to build literacy)

“Like theatre, drama in schools can unlock the use of imagination, intellect, empathy and courage. Through it, ideas, responses, and feelings can be expressed and communicated. It carries the potential to challenge, to question and to bring about change.” – Jude Kelly

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it“– Bertolt Brecht

Staffing

• Mrs Colclough – Curriculum Co-ordinator responsible for the effective co-ordination and running of the department.
• Miss Johnston – Teacher of Performing Arts
• Mrs Posner – Teacher of Performing Arts

Accommodation

The Drama/Performing Arts Department has two purpose built rooms, the Arts theatre and Year 11 centre. The impact of technology within the Drama curriculum is well catered for at All Hallows. We have sixteen networked computers all running Microsoft Office, The vast majority of our students make excellent use of the technological facilities available in the Department.

The Arts theatre is also used for lessons and acts of worship, concert rehearsals and performances. The Year 11 centre is also used during Exam periods.

Teaching Strategies

• Time-tabled weekly class/set drama lesson
• Drama performances and dancing act as parts of Acts of Worship
• Individual, paired and group work
• Drama and dance performances by pupils and/or visiting actors /dancers/singers
• Cross-curricular themes

Teaching Groups

Each year group has one lesson each week at Key Stage 3 and 3 lessons each week at Key Stage 4 in Performing Arts.

Within the one lesson (50 minutes) each week, a carousel system of Music and Performing Arts exists.

Department Aims

Curriculum Intent

The Drama Curriculum aims to inspire in all students an appreciation of many different genres and styles of text and performance. It will equip students with a set of essential communication skills for life through highly collaborative and experimental learning experiences. Students will gain a wider understanding of the world in which they live and a wider awareness and appreciation for themselves and fellow humanity. Students will develop their self-confidence, self-expression, empathy and communication skills. The Curriculum aims to develop students’ awareness of social, moral and ethical values, and aims to allow all students to respond creatively and critically to a range of contexts and stimuli. It aims to deepen students’ cultural understanding and exposure. Students will be equipped to reflect, analyse and evaluate a range of ideas, concepts, performances and texts.

The Drama Curriculum focuses on providing quality opportunities for all students to create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for performance. It aims to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of how Drama and Theatre is developed and performed. Students learn how to use, apply, develop and refine a range of theatrical skills in performance to realise their own artistic intentions. Students will explore creative approaches to interpret a given stimuli or text from page to stage, reflecting, analysing and evaluating at each creative stage in the rehearsal process. Through a wide range of opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom, students should develop an appreciation of the performing arts and grow to understand its value for themselves and for society as a whole. The aim of our Drama curriculum is to nurture and expand our students’ creative minds. We want our students to feel limitless with their imagination and challenge them to present information to a target audience making it relevant, purposeful and engaging.

Through the exploration of carefully selected topics, students will master skills in teamwork, communication, critical thinking, problem solving, confidence, autonomy, tolerance and empathy. Drama student will make, perform and evaluate. Ultimately, we want our students to begin to develop a passion for the Arts and find great joy in this creative outlet.

Implementation

During Key Stage 3, staff will implement and pupils will have the opportunity to:
Focus on developing skills in performing, making and evaluating drama, dance and theatre through exploration of themes, texts and dramatic practices. We aim to develop individuality, to inspire our students to become reflective and creative individuals that have the confidence to explore and question the world around them as they grow in today’s ever changing society. We aim to encourage students to think and express themselves with flair and confidence and to encourage tolerance and understanding. Students are given opportunities through practical role-play in both script work and devising, and look at the different creative roles and the different styles of drama experienced through their performance work and watching performances of others in class, and those of professionals, with theatre trips and in-house industry workshops and performances. The work studied at KS3 and KS4 allows for these creative skills and transferable qualities to develop. At KS4 in GCSE BTEC Performing Arts the students have the chance to really put their craft into practice for examination purposes, and also to showcase their theatrical knowledge in their coursework components. Pupils always have opportunity to rehearse, refine and share their work, responding verbally to all creativity showcased in the drama space. We encourage creativity and strive to develop empathetic, confident students who can analyse and question the world around them.

During years 7, 8 and 9, students receive one timetabled lesson each week of Performing Arts –a carousel of music and drama. Throughout the three years we cover basic acting skills in movement and voice, mask work, genres, varied play texts, styles of theatre such as Physical, Commedia, Slapstick, Mime, Stage Combat, Pantomime and Theatre in Education. The focus of these lessons is to instil teamwork, self-control, co-operation, communication, independence, and mutual respect. The lessons always have an engaging context, theme or chosen studied text that best fits the interests, social demographic or locality of the students such as; Circus, Mime and Matilda in Year 7, Gang Culture/Stage Combat, Grease and Blood Brothers, Pantomime and T.I.E , to mention a few. All KS3 pupils will also get the opportunity to see and analyse live theatre, both in house and in a theatre context, which will allow them to start developing the skills required to be more successful at KS4 Performing Arts BTEC if they choose it as an option. Pupil within lesson will always get the opportunity to use role play and develop acting skills and technique, perform to their peers and evaluate performance work.