Drama

We believe that the Performing Arts promote self-confidence, co-operation and inventiveness in addition to helping children appreciate freedom of expression.
In the Pre-Prep all children receive one timetabled period of Drama each week.  Movement is also highly valued and there are opportunities throughout the year to perform for parents and invited audiences.

At the Prep School, both dance and drama are integral parts of the curriculum.  We encourage all children to perform on stage at least once annually in their year group production, and our Junior and Senior Plays offer further opportunity for dramatic development.  Some of our recent productions have included Alice in Wonderland, Bugsy Malone, Jesus Christ Superstar, Shakespeare Shorts and an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Most years a troupe of our most talented actors and actresses take a production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which offers pupils a unique chance to experience drama on a more professional level while celebrating their talents in a fun and innovative environment.  We have encountered phenomenal successes at the Fringe; our production of The End of Innocence (2001) was nominated for a Fringe First Award for New Drama and the Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression.

Drama is part of the Third Form curriculum at the Senior School and becomes optional at GCSE level. An enormous number of students, however, participate in our school productions each year, all of which involve large casts. These also provide ample opportunities for those interested in the technical aspects of theatre. Recent performances have included Sondheim's Follies, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Les Miserables and an adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials novels.

The Auden Theatre provides an ideal venue for performance, offering a professional and versatile space. The range, scale and variety of performances to which our pupils have access provides a richness which makes us truly unique. Our Theatre in the Woods also provides a dramatic backdrop for outdoor performances

Drama Scholarships on transfer to the Senior School are offered. Please visit our page on Scholarships for more information.