News

Autumn Term 2020

Year 7 have just just started working on 'Darkwood Manor' - which is a spooky Ghost Story, where the pupils will explore how to use their bodies in creating different objects and set (Total Body Theatre) whilst Storytelling. Students will eventually be in larger casts where they will create their own story but this time using lights, music and sound effects - to engage their audience further and draw them into a 'different world'.

  

Year 8 have just started working on how to create a believable 'character' on stage - through different actor based workshops. Within this scheme of work they must consider how to create a character profile based on a 'stereotype'. They will then start placing these characters within a dramatic situation and start exploring how to form 'on stage' relationships and how to stay 'in role' during a structured scene by effectively using their physicality, movement and voice. 

Year 9 and 10 this term have been exploring the practice and methodologies of the most famous and influential theatre practitioners such as Stanislavski, Boal, Brecht, Artaud, Berkoff and Frantic Assembly. By learning these different practical approaches to Theatre they are then encouraged to apply these to their own devised pieces - where they will more interesting and dynamic  for their audience to engage with.

  

Year 11 in preparation for their mock exams, for most of this term they have been focusing on theory and practice questions  - where in section A they have been studying the play DNA by Dennis Kelly and the National Theatres production of Frankenstein for section B.

In both sections of the exam students have to demonstrate not only a knowledge and understanding of both plays but how technical theatre, acting, and directing have been used to convey specific themes and intentions to a modern day audience. They have also been in their devising groups developing ideas using their selected stimulus - to start generating material for an 'original' performance which will eventually be filmed and sent off to the exam board.

MFL Week - during this week the Year 9 Drama group - rehearsed and performed some short scenes from the Film The Pianist by Ronald Harwood and the year 7's rehearsed and performed some scenes from the film Chocolat by Robert Nelson Jacobs. 

   

  

Intervention - this has been extremely successful this term - on Tuesday after school the Year 10 GCSE class have been attending regularly and using the session to improve practical class performance work.

In addition to this the Year 11 GCSE class have been coming along to the studio every Monday Lunchtime - for extra support with their exam theory. We will also be offering additional time after school on Mondays and Fridays to support and rehearse their devising pieces.

Drama Clubs

Year 7 on Wednesday lunchtimes are just starting a project based on a modern adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, exploring themes such as bullying and loyalty.

Year 8 on Thursday lunchtimes are just starting a project based on Sweeny Todd.

Year 9 on Wednesdays after school are developing their own piece of theatre based on the stimulus of a ‘Waste-ground’. The style of their piece is very abstract and styled, using the influences of Artaud, Boal and Brecht plus incorporating some Trestle Mask work.

As a department we are hoping to film these performances and share with parents towards the end of the Spring Term.

Mr Mayhew and Miss Stowe in character for Year 7 Darkwood Manor