Drama
Our ethos surrounds mass participation whilst giving those that want to pursue the Arts professionally a platform to do so. We encourage pupils from all sections of the school to get involved.
Claire Davies
Director of Drama
Our aim is to always give students a professional yet supportive environment to develop as actors. Rehearsals are collaborative and student input is encouraged. Our productions embrace all age groups and all students, who are keen to take part and have seen the captain of the rugby team take a lead role in a musical, academic scholars dancing and cricket fanatics on the stage. Auditions for School Productions are open, and everyone committed to being in a production will have the opportunity to do so.
Alongside the School Productions we also offer LAMDA, Modern and Ballet tuition. We have over 200 students taking part across the Prep and the Senior School and three permanent members of LAMDA, ISTD and RAD teaching staff. Our teachers are professionals within the industry, they write their own work, run their own companies and perform/direct around the country. We are very lucky to have such great links within the industry and this year we have supported professional auditions with Nina Gold as well as signing two of our students with professional agents.
Our Elite Actor and Performance Training initiative is open to all (not just scholars) via auditions. If successful at audition students will have access to industry level workshops where they will prepare for professional auditions and build up skill in preparation for the professional world.
We have a Drama Tech Club, which runs each week and these students learn stage management, lighting and sound skills. These students have access to industry professionals, including award-winning Lighting Designer, David Bishop, who has worked on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor and Royal Weddings and Celebrations. Our Tech Club students are fully involved in all our productions throughout the year.
Drama At A Glance
Find out more about the incredible opportunities our Drama Department offers students.
Our Scholars’ programme is building momentum and each year our Performing Arts and Drama Scholars will have access to weekly professional workshops, additional theatre trips, as well as a termly mentor meeting. We also run weekly sessions for any student putting in an application to Drama School. We have a great success rate and in the last five years students have gained entry to LAMDA, BIRD, Central, Guildhall and Rose Bruford.
Some of our illustrious alumni who have excelled in the world of the professional theatre include David Suchet (Poirot), Carly Bawden (My Fair Lady and Evita), Eddie Brown (The Ghost Hunter) and internationally acclaimed lighting designer David Bishop (Queen's Jubilee Concerts, Live Earth, The Royal Variety Performance and Children In Need to name a few).
There is so much to explore within the Drama pages of this website – look into our Dance provision, watch the Production Highlights, read the exciting news stories coming out of this year. We are very proud to be an award-winning department, we are a safe but fun home for all performers within the School and we never put a roof on expectation, if you can dream it, you can do it!