Ethos

The Drama Department aims to inspire students with both the practical and intellectual aspects of Theatre and Drama as art forms, and provide a sound background to those students who decide to take their studies further in this field at university or drama school, or in related fields such as film or media.

In KS3, the emphasis is on developing the basic skills of self-awareness, concentration, listening and working with others which will support the creative work at GCSE and A level. Students at all levels benefit from the opportunity to develop self-confidence and presentation skills.

The Department is fortunate to have an exceptionally large Drama Studio with modern facilities and extensive technical equipment for sound and lighting.

Years 7-9

In year 7 we look at Basic skills; Improvisation (Bullying); Greek Theatre; Chaucer: The Pardoner’s Tale; Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Dramatic Monologues; and  Writing Scripts.

In Year 8 Drama is taught in two of the six terms. There are 3 lessons per fortnight.
Project One (initial drama term): Issues based drama: The Stabbing at the Disco.
Project Two (subsequent drama term): Migration (links to Humanities ‘Exodus’ work).

A similar pattern is followed in Year 9:
Project One (initial drama term): Masks/Commedia dell’Arte.
Project Two (subsequent drama term): Much Ado about Nothing

Years 11−12

The GCSE course includes work on voice, movement, characterisation and the use of the drama space leading to the presentation of scripted work and also work devised by the students.

Other aspects include analysing the effectiveness of performance skills identified in plays seen or explored as part of the course, and comparative work in relation to other cultures, styles and periods. Teamwork and interpersonal skills are emphasized throughout the course.

Years 12−13
The A Level course includes detailed practical exploration of set plays together with analysis of performances seen as part of the course, plus presentation of scripted and devised work.

Enrichment
The Department has a long history of innovative and exciting extra-curricular projects, which have included in recent years Guys and Dolls (at Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells), Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance, The Canterbury Tales, A Tale of Two Cities, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Once in a Lifetime (at Trinity Theatre), Feather Boy (as part of the National Theatre’s Connections programme of new writing for young people, and also toured to our partner town Wiesbaden in Germany), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Godspell.

 Drama staff
Mr A Freeman (Head of Dept) and Ms R Lovera (English Department)

For further information please contact the Head of Department via the School Office:
T: 01892 529551
E: thegrammarschool@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk