Drama at Queen Margaret’s provides girls with the means by which they can create, express and respond to their own ideas and concepts, through the effective use of a visual and verbal vocabulary. It should provide each girl with the skills to handle a variety of social/real life situations effectively and with an understanding of the feelings of others. We facilitate a problem-solving approach to their learning, and enhance this through direct experience and decision-making.

 

Through Drama, girls are encouraged to develop an inherent sensitivity, responding to challenging experiences, both emotionally and aesthetically. This seeks to enhance the girls’ awareness and enjoyment of their own work and that of the group. It also develops their powers of observation and perception, through the use of published texts as well as their own scripted and improvised work. Many girls thoroughly enjoy this subject area, whether or not they take it to examination level. 

 

Drama in the Lower School follows a progressive course, covering modules which centre on specific practical skills and techniques, as well as the language and form of theatre.  All year groups receive one lesson of one hour per week. Classes, held in the theatre or workshop space, are largely practical and focus on both improvisation and scripted work.
 

Year One begins with an introduction to foundation drama skills and storytelling. This leads into devised activities and voice work, which form the basis of a year group public performance.
 

Year Two sees the development of drama vocabulary in conjunction with intermediate devising and vocal skills. We also explore commedia theatre and the use of masks/puppetry. This is then incorporated in a performance.
 

Year Three includes some more sophisticated role play and a focus on ‘issues’ which can be explored through drama. Movement based activity is liked with this and there is an opportunity for performance to display this.           

This course looks at the meaning, construction and production of drama and theatre. Pupils will develop group skills including co-operation and communication, while learning to respond independently and take responsibility for their own work. Teachers will provide the ‘tools’ and techniques, allowing pupils to make their own choice of creative reactions.

 

During the course pupils will look at a variety of texts and stimulus material from fiction to film, together with music, artifacts and images.  They will study the work of various playwrights; often contemporary, whilst awareness of the history of the theatre is encouraged. Visits to live performances are made several times throughout the course.

 

The examination consists of both practical and written coursework, spread out through Year IV and the first half of Year V. The latter part of the final year is spent preparing for a group performance, in front of a visiting examiner, which accounts for the remainder of the overall GCSE result.

 

AS LEVEL 
 

In this course, play texts are explored through practical activities and written tasks, which form part of the exam result. We make several theatre visits throughout the year, to watch a variety of productions. The girls rehearse and perform a published play, to a live audience and an external examiner.  Another short piece of drama, monologue or duologue, is prepared and then presented, along with a written explanation of the actor’s interpretation.

 

A2 LEVEL: 
 

The initial focus is on creating a unique and original piece of theatre, working with the rest of the group. It is performed to an invited audience, and the whole process is written about, as a further part of the examination. The girls also study a set play, in an academic and practical way, as well as studying an historical period of theatre. We see a live performance of the play, and compare it with the original staging conditions. The course finishes with a related written exam.

Girls from all year groups can participate in Drama productions, of various kinds, ‘straight play’ and musical, which make a significant contribution to life at Queen Margaret’s. The subject area is therefore high profile – as pupils present their work to the rest of the school, parents and a wider audience, thus allowing opportunities to take part in or witness the creative responses made.  This provides a stimulating and innovative environment, which benefits the school as a whole.