Drama
Head of Department: Miss F E Horrocks
At Arnold, Drama plays a significant role in the life of the school, both as a taught subject within the curriculum as well as a popular extra-curricular opportunity. While all pupils have the chance to participate in drama, any students with particular talent are given individual support and guidance, enabling them to excel and achieve their personal potential. Former Arnold pupils, who have been successful in pursuing professional acting careers in recent years include Jonas Armstrong (BBC Robin Hood) and Jenna Coleman (Emmerdale).
Drama is taught to all pupils as part of the curriculum in the Lower School, which is tailored to ensure challenge and progression. Whenever possible, the curriculum is adapted and updated in response to student voice. An increasing number of pupils are taking the subject to GCSE and A-level and their excellent results show that pupils enjoy and achieve in Drama.
Regular extra-curricular clubs culminate in several celebrations of work throughout the year, which are performed in our purpose-built Drama Studio. The Drama Department works closely with the other creative arts subjects across the school; this close collaboration with Music and Dance is best celebrated by our whole school musical each December.
To enhance a student's understanding of the different styles of performance, the drama department offers a number of theatre trips, regularly visiting Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Bolton Theatres. To aid A Level students studying practitioners such as Stanislavski, the department hopes to offer an international trip to Moscow providing intense training at The Moscow Arts Theatre. It is also in our future plans to take our work to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Watching the work of different theatre companies and directors inspired the practical work at both GCSE and A Level last academic year; work ranged from a naturalistic extract of the 'Important of Being Earnest' to a physical exploration of Caryl Churchill's 'Blue Kettle'.
The Drama Department has strong links with the Central School of Speech and Drama, offering many opportunities such as workshops for pupils wanting to audition for drama school. The Paper Birds Theatre Company provides workshops for our A Level students in post-modern devising techniques to support their practical work further; these workshops often complement the show they are currently touring. It is extremely important to bring in contemporary practitioners in the field so that students can learn from other professionals in their different areas of expertise.
Drama is an art form, a practical activity and an intellectual discipline. Like the other arts it involves imagination and feelings and helps us to make sense of the world. It does this through the creation of imaginary characters and situations, and the relationships and events they encounter. Whilst some may see drama as relating solely to developing performance skills the subject is, in fact, a significant method of communication. It is this that makes it a unique art form.
Staff
Miss Faye E Horrocks (Head of Department)
Miss Charlotte S Norris
