‘All the world’s a stage’ – in Drama we explore the world!

At Campion all students study Drama at Key Stage 3 and they have the option to continue their study at GCSE and at A Level. We believe that studying Drama gives students skills, experience and ways of learning and exploring which contribute to them academically, pastorally and prepares them for whatever they wish to go to do in their lives (whether this involves Drama or not), by encouraging skills such as teamwork, independence, time management, empathy, problem solving, communication and confidence!

At all Key Stages we aim to offer opportunities to visit professional theatre.

At Key Stage 3 students study Drama for 1 hour each fortnight. They begin with an introduction to Drama in which they learnt the essential skills which they will need for the remainder of their studies. Key Stage 3 students also have the opportunity to engage in extra-curricular drama through the school production.

As they continue their studies we aim to provide variety in their topics:

* In Mime and Movement they develop their skills of non-verbal communication and control as well as delivering their artistic vision for a drama.

* By considering the work of the famous Theatre Practitioner, Stanislavski, students learn theatrical theory about how to create detailed and believable characters and apply these skills practically to their work.

* Exiting and dynamic, Physical Theatre challenges students to think beyond the realistic and use their own bodies communicate meaning to an audience.

* Exploring different genres helps students to be experimental and consider different possibilities, we have combined this with theatrical history in our exploration of the 16th Century comic tradition of Commedia Dell’Arte.

* At GCSE students need to engage with scripts, Murder at Mason’s Hotel is a script which allows students to explore the murder mystery genre, interpret a script and create clear characters.

* A key skill at GCSE and excellent for developing more complex understanding of how to select and develop relevant ideas, Devising from a Stimulus gives students an opportunity to really challenge their own practice.

* Stage Fighting is a skill which requires absolute focus and control and challenges the students’ communication (both verbal and non-verbal) and precision. This is a skill which can then be employed in later dramas.

* Students have an opportunity to further develop their skills in physical theatre including a focus on creating a specific atmosphere for an audience. 

* In the Victorian era Melodrama was a popular form of entertainment, this unit encourages students to challenge themselves through exaggeration and understanding of how to act in a particular style.