Drama
The Drama department at Channing aims to provide a stimulating and rewarding environment where students are given the chance to excel. We have two purpose built drama spaces, one proscenium arch stage and one intimate studio space.
The objectives are:
- To help each student develop their creative potential and performing skills
- To learn to appreciate the craft of theatre
- To understand the language of Drama and its major genres and dramatic forms.
KS3
Drama is part of the timetabled curriculum in Years 7 & 9. Students are introduced to the basic building blocks upon which successful Drama can flourish. Students learn a variety of skills aimed to improve confidence and the ability to work as a team.
The Drama curriculum covers improvisation and script work in different styles and genres, for example Physical Theatre and Commedia Dell Arte. A Shakespeare play is studied in each year, with an emphasis on interpretation and performance. Students are given different stimuli from various times and cultures to explore through the medium of Drama. At the end of Year 9, students will perform a play to an audience. Students are assessed on the process of creating Drama - group skills, speaking and listening and the performance of Drama - voice, facial expressions and movement.
Year 7 improvisation
KS4
GCSE Drama is to be offered as an extra curricular qualification, Students in Year 10 will be able to develop improvisation and acting skills to a higher level, they will study a play in more detail and look at different ways of bringing it to life on stage. The course is very practical but requires commitment, 100% attendance, and written homework.
AS level students directing Year 5 students in "A Midsummer Nights Dream"
KS5
AS and A2 Drama and Theatre Studies is a popular and successful subject at Channing. This course involves the exploration of practitioners and theory in drama and theatre.
The course offers a stimulating mixture of creative and collaborative practical work. Textual study and theatre visits are followed by discussion and analysis. In addition to taking written examinations, AS students devise direct, design and perform in an original play. A2 students produce a group performance of an extract from a published play. There is also a technical option of designing for the theatre productions either, costume, set, sound or lighting.
Extra-Curricular
There are a number of ways for girls to be involved in drama throughout the school - either by participating onstage, or by helping out backstage and with the technical elements.
There is a Year 7 and 8 Drama club after school and a whole school production every year. Enthusiastic Sixth Formers run the KS4 drama club. There is also the opportunity for girls to organise and produce productions entirely on their own
Latest Production
The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca.
An evening interspersed with original live music and Flamenco dance.
"Let the enemies of decency pay the price! Kill her."
"The greatest punishment in life is to be born a woman"
"Let me out of this house, Bernarda. Let me out!"
Read Sara Shulman's review of the House of Bernarda Alba here
