Drama

Department Staff
Louise McCaughan: Head of Drama Drama and English
Majella Murray English, Drama and Media
Emer Furey Assistant Head of English, and Drama
Paul Banks English, Media, Drama

Overview

Drama has an important role to play in the personal development of our students. The skills and qualities developed by students in Drama, such as teamwork, creativity, leadership and risk-taking are assets in all subjects and all areas of life. Drama stimulates the imagination and allows students to explore issues and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.

It is vital to create an atmosphere of security, trust and concentration. Drama promotes self-esteem and provides all students with a sense of achievement regardless of academic ability. It is about social skills, communication skills and having fun - we learn by doing!

Drama is a subject that teaches on many levels – from the physicality of movement and the exploration of emotions to the academic, intellectual and imaginative study of plays and theatre practitioners


Key Stage 3

In KS3, students have one period of Drama per week. Topics studied are:

Year 8:

  • Introduction to Drama skills;

  • Script- ‘The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty’;

  • Melodrama;

  • ‘Romeo and Juliet’ - stage combat.


Year 9:

  • Improvisation;

  • ‘Dracula’;

  • Script work,

  • ‘Ricky Brown’;

  • Monologues


Year 10:

  • Parts of the stage and script writing

  • “15 Reasons Not to be in a Play” and physical theatre

  • ‘Teechers’ - script work

  • “Macbeth”

Key Stage 4 and 5

At GCSE, the college follows the CCEA specification for Drama. Students produce a Devised performance worth 25% in Year 11. In Year 12, students perform a Scripted piece worth 35% and sit a written exam in May worth 40% of their final grade.

At A Level, the college follows Edexcel’s A Level Drama and Theatre Studies specification. This is a linear A Level and therefore there is no formal exam in Year 13. Students complete a Devised performance with coursework (40%), a Scripted group performance and monologue OR duologue (20%) and a written paper at the end of Year 14 (40%).

Clubs, Trips, Links

Due to our new split lunch timetable, the traditional Year 8 Pantomime directed by senior students has been changed to facilitate all of our interested student actors and directors!

Year 8 extra-curricular Drama club begins in the summer term and students perform their scripted performance in the first term of Year 9.

Year 9 and 10 students regularly perform and invite an audience of their peers to watch them in order to build confidence and develop effective relationships.

GCSE and A Level rehearsals take place at lunchtime and after school. The students studying GCSE and A level Drama perform their Devised and Scripted pieces in the evenings to family, friends and staff.

Various trips to the theatre are planned throughout the school year - The Lyric, The Grand Opera House, The Riverside and The Millennium Forum - to encourage students to appreciate live theatre and to give them the opportunity to tour the theatre and get an insight into the many roles within the creative industry. The most recent trip to the theatre was in August 2022 where students attended a production of “Blood Brothers” at The Grand Opera House, Belfast.

During lock-down, the A Level Drama class took part in online classes with The Lyric Theatre to gain an insight into how to develop and enhance their monologue and performance work.

The Drama department has also organised various touring companies to perform at the college. In October 2022, the college will welcome Bruiser Theatre Company who are performing “Teechers.”

Curriculum