Drama

Girls have the opportunity to study drama as part of their curriculum and participate in drama as part of their co-curricular activities. There are multiple productions each year which target different year groups so all pupils have a chance to shine! They include the joint-schools musical and play, a L5 production and a West play. There is an annual inter-house drama competition which is keenly fought, and girls have the chance to learn about film-making in workshops and competitions.

There are also numerous trips to see professional theatre in performance, live streamed theatre into the Gransden Hall, as well as the chance for girls to work with industry professionals in a variety of workshops. 

Former students have gone on to study at specialist schools such as East 15, GSA and Central School of Speech and Drama.

Speech and Drama

Over 80 girls each year take Trinity Guildhall exams in Speech and Drama, with 100% pass rate and many of them achieving a Distinction. The top grades also allow the girls to accrue UCAS points in support of their university application, as well as developing important transferable skills.

Lessons are offered with a specialist teacher for girls wishing simply to improve their performance skills or to take the Trinity Guildhall speech and drama exams. There are also a number of girls each year who opt to take the musical theatre option which is taught by a member of the music department.

Lessons and exams for girls in L4-L5 are usually offered in groups of four to six to enable as many girls who want to access speech and drama lessons to do so. As they move up the school, girls may opt to transition to duo or solo lessons as availability permits. Every effort is made to schedule lessons during the girls’ free time or study periods so that they do not miss any academic lessons.

Clubs

For girls who want to participate in drama but not necessarily in the productions, or for those who wish to do both, there are weekly clubs which cover other areas of drama skills.

New Views is a playwriting course run by the National Theatre where the girls create their own 30 minute play which is submitted to the National competition. Recently, one girl’s work was shortlisted to the top nine in the country and was performed as a rehearsed reading on the National’s Dorfman stage in London.

Girls can also choose to complete their Arts Award at either Bronze, Silver or Gold Level. Arts Award allows girls to learn new skills, do some research into their favourite performer or director and pass on their learning to others. They keep a portfolio of evidence to be submitted at the end of the year where they can gain a nationally recognised award. The Gold Arts Award also accrues UCAS points.

A refit of the drama building with state-of-the-art lighting and technical equipment offers an opportunity for the girls to learn about technical theatre in a weekly club; covering lighting and sound design, projections, set and costume design.