| Seniors: Drama |
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| Description |
 The
Drama Department offers a cohesive and well-developed
curriculum that aims to teach the key skills
of Drama and Theatre Arts. The lively and
varied practical units offered at KS3 level
are consolidated with short written assignments
presented in attractive booklets designed
for each year group. Significant emphasis
is placed on the acquisition of a thorough
understanding of the meaning and practical
application of the relevant forms and techniques
of drama to equip students for the analytical
and more advanced creative skills required
for the GCSE, A/S and A level courses offered
at KS4 and 5. The well-equipped technical
facilities permit the students to acquire
the practical knowledge of theatre arts such
as lighting, sound, stage management and make-up.
In addition to these areas being taught in
curriculum time, a popular technical club
meets once a week. For practical purposes
all students wear the Drama Department uniform,
consisting of a black T- shirt (adorned with
a specially designed logo) and trousers. There
is at least one Lower School and Senior School
production each academic year. Recent performances
have included the musical 'Smike', Arthur
Miller's 'The Crucible', Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
and Lorca's 'Blood W edding'.
There is also a 'cabaret' evening each year
involving a large number of students that
aims to give a platform to the best of the
curriculum work. Future plans include the
possibility of a whole school end-of-year
theatre festival St Christopher's School is
an active member of the International Schools'
Theatre Association and has attended festivals
recently in Brussels and Cairo. In April,
2000 the school hosted a highly successful
ISTA Middle School Festival attended by eight
international schools. Senior School Drama
students are encouraged to participate in
the annual Theatre trip which last year visited
Stratford-upon-Avon and London and in June
of this year will visit Barcelona, Spain where
the focus of the work will be on devised theatre.
In recent years, the curriculum studies have
been complemented with workshops and performances
by visiting professional theatre artists such
as Rapscallion Theatre, the American Theatre
Group, Europe and a residency by the commedia
dell' arte expert Oliver Crick. |
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| Facilities |
 The
main focus of the work of the Department is
a multi-purpose school hall that can be adapted
according to the demands of the performance.
The focal point is a large stage for proscenium-style
presentations but the space also allows for
'theatre-in the round' and performances on
an apron stage. There is a dedicated raised
gantry for the operation of the well-resourced
lighting and sound equipment. Specialist accessories,
such as strobe lighting, smoke machines and
colour wheels are also to hand. The technical
facilities are controlled from a state-of-the-art
lighting and sound console. There are two
well-equipped dressing rooms backstage with
an adjacent off-stage storage area. A separate
space allows for the storage of an extensive
collection of theatrical costumes, props and
stage furniture. As well as the main hall,
there are two other drama studios that allow
for small-scale presentations. A recent addition
has been the creation of an outdoor performance
area that will provide an extra platform for
'al-fresco' drama and music events. |
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| Courses |
 The
well-integrated KS3 curriculum aims to teach
the key skills of drama through such units
as building a character, movement and voice,
spontaneous and prepared improvisation (using
a variety of stimuli), role-play activities,
melodrama, mask work, commedia dell'arte skills,
radio drama, issue-based drama and the interpretation
and performance of script. The course leads
towards the EDEXCEL Drama GCSE examinations,
the new syllabus of which will be introduced
in September 2001. Students in Year 12 and
13 follow the London Examinations A/S and
A level Drama and Theatre Studies course.
It is planned that from September 2001, KS3
students will be given the opportunity to
study for the certificate examinations offered
by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic
Art. |
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| Career
Routes |
| Drama students
can go on to apply for places at recognised
Drama schools and for specific University
courses in Drama and Theatre Studies. However,
the study of drama also opens up a wide-range
of career options such as arts administration,
media studies, journalism and law. The Department
has an updated collection of brochures for
the above courses and is able to offer first-hand
advice based on the professional acting experience
of individual members of the Department. |
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| Student
Quotes |
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 "Drama
gives me the opportunity to build my self-esteem
and not be shy." Year 8 student, Sumaiyah
Docrat
"It's fun, interestng and you can
express yourself to other people... "
Noaman Ikram
This is what two students thought On the
recent trip to the International School's
Theatre Association trip to Cairo, Egypt:
"I loved it. I had a great time meeting
new people and enjoyed trying new workshops.
I feel that I have learnt an awful lot about
Drama." Emad Saeed, Year 9
Sixth Form Associate student on the trip,
Sara Powell, said: "I took a responsible
role during ISTA such as directing my ensemble
group to create a three minute presentation
to other groups. It was great and I felt
I had achieved something when watching the
performance. I learnt so much from all the
people I met such as new drama exercises
and theatre techniques."
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