Drama

Our Vision

Our goal is to nurture the social skills of all pupils in an environment of expressive play, which allows them the chance to explore drama as a gateway to the world and to themselves as individuals. We use the key strands of devised skills, scripted skills and evaluative skills to chart a journey through different genres, styles, scripts and practitioners. We believe that this will foster creativity, confidence and develop students’ unique perspectives and respect for others.

Key Stage 3

In Year 7, we introduce students to foundational skills such as still image, improvisation and mime to encourage the exploration of a variety of stimuli. Lessons will provide collaborative opportunities to try different styles, roles and ways of telling a story, including script-writing skills, pantomime and masks.

In Year 8 students study additional theatre practitioners and design elements to those introduced in Year 7, as well as new skills such as stage combat. Students will be guided through the creation of more developed naturalistic characters, the play Blood Brothers and will navigate new techniques for communicating a message to an audience.

The Year 9 curriculum grows students’ understanding of theatrical conventions as they are granted more creative freedom to experiment with scripts, genre, forms and performance spaces in the pursuit of greater empathy and versatility. This consolidates the range of skills and knowledge from the previous two years and provides a springboard for those students continuing to study Drama at GCSE.

Key Stage 4

We follow the Pearson-Edexcel specification for GCSE Drama, which builds on the key strands from Key Stage 3 (devised, scripted and evaluative skills) in preparation for three components of assessment: Devising, Texts in Performance and Theatre Makers in Practice. Through a mixture of performances, practical exploration, acting and design skills, coursework and a written exam, students will deepen their knowledge and experience. We take students to see a professional live theatre production to support their studies, sharpen their analytical and evaluative skills, whilst also expanding their cultural perspective.

Key Stage 5

Continuing with the Pearson-Edexcel specification, A-level Drama students have greater opportunity to improve their depth and breadth of experience in regard to theatre practitioners, scripts, performance styles and conventions. Greater ownership is given to students as they develop unique performance concepts for devised performances, scripted monologues and a written account of their own theatrical experiences and ideas. Their study is bolstered by at least one theatre trip, where students can benefit from industry level productions.

Extra-curricular

The Drama Department provides additional opportunities for students to develop their skills and meet like-minded people. The main opportunities are through the Drama Club, which runs weekly for Year 7 and 8 students. The aim of this group is to give further experience of rehearsal and performance where pupils audition for a role in the KLB pantomime for a performance in the main hall at Christmas. Year 12 students traditionally take a directing role in this whole process, which benefits them and the younger students they oversee.

The Drama Department organises an annual school production, often working with the Music Department to stage musicals: Beauty and the Beast, Chicago and Grease are among the shows from recent years. These bigger, whole-school projects also create opportunities for students to be involved in back stage roles, such as costume, makeup, set, sound and lighting design. Many students take part in these productions and students who have chosen Drama for GCSE or A-level at KLB are certainly encouraged to participate.

Visiting performers

Pupils gain a great deal from visiting professionals; not only the enjoyment of seeing high quality performances and a wider understanding of theatre, but inspiration for their own work. We aim to give all year groups the opportunity to see at least one professional performance in school every year. Frantic Assembly were our most recent visiting theatre company.

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