Loading the player ...

This film was shot and edited by the Epsom College Film Production Club.

Epsom CollegeCo-educational 13-18 Boarding and Day School

Drama and Theatre Studies

Head of Department: Kim Chandley. Email: K-Chandley@epsomcollege.org.uk

The Year 9 Drama curriculum offers all pupils in the year a solid foundation in Drama, not only in acting and performance work, but also in lighting, sound and costume design. All Year 9 pupils stage a performance of their class work at the end of the Michaelmas term, which next year will be based on Russell's Blood Brothers, accompanied by a theatre review visit for the entire year group to the show in the West End. They then develop their design and devising skills in the Lent term, writing their own original piece of Drama, performed to their peers. Finally, the summer term develops their analytical skills in our set text study, providing them with a foundation into the GCSE course and a thorough end of Key Stage 3 learning in Drama.

GCSE Drama and AS/A2 level Theatre Studies courses offer those with a strong interest and commitment to Drama the opportunity to develop their performance, direction and design skills and broaden their understanding of theatre. Regular theatre trips, professional workshops and drama tours are at the centre of the learning process, providing students with the opportunity to participate actively in the wider, challenging world of theatre arts. We offer a GCSE Drama 5-day trip to New York to study 5 show on Broadway accompanied by 3 professional workshops. At A2, we have a 3 day intense residency to support the devising process with trained professionals in acting, lighting, costume and sound design, developing pupils' skills to consistently reach top grades every year.

Students learn all aspects of stagecraft in our two purpose-built studios and are encouraged to explore their ideas through the concrete language of the stage, rather than being purely classroom-based. Our GCSE Drama academic course is with the Welsh board, whilst we are with AQA at AS/A2 level. Both are intellectually stimulating, rigorous courses, which introduce students to the social, philosophical, cultural and historical backgrounds of the plays we study, perform and analyse from live theatre review or unseen commentary and analysis.

GCSE Drama (WJEC) develops personal and social skills and the pupils' self esteem and confidence, as they work closely with trust to be creative together. The course develops their Devised theatre practical skills in a public performance in October of their Year 11 (40%), alongside a written analytical formal Devised Theatre Report (20%). The remaining practical coursework element is a scripted extract (20%) to be performed to an external examiner in May of Year 11. The externally assessed written exam in the summer of Year 11 allows them to complete a written analysis of their scripted performance, alongside a full page to stage set text study, which currently includes either Dr Korczak's Example or Stone Cold.

Theatre Studies forms a natural progression from GCSE Drama, though it is not essential to have studied it prior to joining the course. There are two papers at AS and A2 levels: one is practical, worth 40%; the other is written, though, as with GCSE, we approach the work practically. Students study set plays each year in close detail, developing a confident knowledge of the historical, cultural and political influences of the day. The AS text studied this year is Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, at A2 level, the texts are Berkoff's The Trial and Moliere's Tartuff'. Theatre review at AS is currently focussed on the detailed study of War Horse at the New London Theatre.

Students also gain an insight into the theories and practice of physical theatre companies, including Complicite and Shared Experience, as well as specialising in their practitioner study at GCSE in the styles and legacy of Brecht, Artaud, Lecoq, Stanislavski and Berkoff, whose ideas have transformed the face of modern drama. Students see many different productions and participate in professional workshops in order to develop their understanding of physical theatre and expressionism as a key influence on their own performances, consisting of a devised performance at A2 and a scripted performance at AS level.

Students learn to critically appreciate the plays that they visit, as with GCSE Drama. Trips have included Bronte, Shared Experience at Richmond Theatre; The Lord of the Flies, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; A Disappearing Number, Complicite at Barbican; The Cherry Orchard, RNT; The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre; and Shockheaded Peter, Piccadilly Theatre; Three Sisters, Chichester Festival Theatre. In addition, we regularly take advantage of archived theatre collection of live productions at the RNT and V&A Museum.

Our academic and extra curricular Drama productions are ambitious and well received, creating a cultural climate alive to new theatre styles and techniques. We regularly have pupils who audition for Drama schools and the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, both as actors and designers. We have an excellent success rate in each area.

Follow the links below to learn more about Drama and Theatre Studies at Epsom College.

 

Facilities and Staffing

Drama Studio 1 was converted and designed for the start of September 2000, at which point Kim Chandley became Head of Department. Academic Drama and Theatre Arts at Key Stage 3, 4 and post 16 has been delivered for the past 11 years. Paul Henson joined the department in 2001 and became the Theatre Technician for the College and Head of Extra Curricular Drama. In 2007, Kim Chandley became Director of Drama, amalgamating the academic department role with the organisation of extra curricular drama at the College. In addition, a second specialist Drama Studio was designed and opened in April 2007, supporting the development of the department and enabling students to gain access to two purpose built, specialist Drama studios. In April 2008 Alex Hughes was appointed as College Technician, with full responsibility for supporting the technical work of academic and extra curricular theatre and their respective buildings. Clare Huxter has trained and qualified as an English and Drama teacher at the College and is currently completing her NQT year.

Drama and Theatre Studies has expanded in terms of numbers, facilities and ambitious programmes and we have maintained a high standard of excellence for all exam and school performance work. Our academic practical results are outstanding at GCSE and A level and we take pride in the many trips and tours we offer our students at Epsom, encouraging a highly rich, rewarding cultural experience for all.

Our two specialist studios are equipped with professional standard lighting, sound and multi-media projection facilities. Students are trained in their use and we are proud to have a strong record of design students at GCSE and post 16 gaining top grades. Both Studios have been developed to accommodate the increasing demands of candidates specialising in technical modules in Lighting and Sound at GCSE, AS and A2 levels. Devised theatre study has been enhanced further with the introduction of two digital cameras and state of the art projection units, as well as AV data mixers in each Studio. Drama Studio 2 has a balcony and is an interesting theatre space for exam performance work; over the past few years it has encouraged aerial silks and circus skills work at AS and A2 level, with candidates gaining 100% for their performances. Both studios house an office and a control room, along with more storage areas for our technical and design properties, sets, masks, lanterns and other backstage resources.

Results

Our academic results fully reflect our aim to strive for excellence and creative flair as a department, with students gaining an average of 91% A*-B grade passes at AS and A2. Our class sizes are small and intimate, with a maximum of 16 at AS/A2 and 18 at GCSE. We had gained equally outstanding exam success at GCSE Drama up to 2007, with 95% A*- B grade passes. However, we have experienced a loss of faith in the written paper marking of AQA GCSE Drama over the past two years, which has resulted in a marked reduction of our A* success at GCSE overall. Our final response has been to change the Welsh board, where we are confident we can return to our previous record of achievement, which is what we have maintained at AS/A2 since the course was launched.

Our practical results are excellent across the board and we have gained a reputation as a centre of excellence with AQA, having been moderated by the chief examiner for Theatre Studies. AQA have asked for Epsom AS and A2 written exam answers to be used as exemplar material for national teacher moderation and training purposes. We remain one of the leading departments in terms of exam success and value added success in all three exam levels within the school. We average +1 grade above the students' expected achievement in terms of their value added.

We are constantly seeking to improve our delivery, teaching methodology and approach through inset and the sharing of good practice. Our teaching approach treats each student individually, enabling them to pursue their own theatre skill specialisms and work on their weaker areas, with close one to one teacher attention.

Our first Cambridge graduate in Theatre and Education gained a first degree two years ago and we have another student on the same course, due to qualify this year. Equally, we have many ex-pupils in the entertainment business in the West End and in LA, both in acting and design. We have many pupils who choose not to pursue their Drama academically at University and who have been able to secure places at top universities on courses such as Medicine and Psychology because of their high achievement in Theatre Studies.