Drama Awards

Michaelmas Term

The Senior Play in December offers the first opportunity for Year 10 to Year 13 pupils to participate. In recent years, casts have performed Our Country’s Good, Tartuffe, The Murders at Argos, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and The Government Inspector.

Lent Term

The Lent Term brings with it the excitement of the Senior Musical, open to pupils from Year 10 to Year 13. Recent productions have included The Addams Family, Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, Footloose and Evita.

Summer Term

There are two Junior Productions in the Summer Term. Year 7 have their own Performing Arts Showcase involving every pupil in a range of singing, acting and dancing numbers. Year 8 and 9 can participate in the Junior Production, which will vary in style each year from straight plays to musical theatre. In recent years, pupils have taken to the stage in productions of Wendy & Peter Pan, The Lion King Jr, The Comedy of Errors, The Sound of Music, Spamalot, Matilda and Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales.

Aspiring directors are encouraged to hone their skills in the Junior Production with a view to potentially assistant directing shows from Year 10 onwards. 

You can apply either as an actor, or by presenting your theatre design/tech skills. Application forms are sent to all pupils holding a deferred place in the autumn of Year 8.

Acting

You should prepare a monologue that lasts no more than two minutes. You will be expected to perform this ‘in-role’ without using a script. Your monologue should be from a published play, rather than a sketch. It is not necessary to be in costume or bring props, but you may bring simple items if you wish.

Once you have performed your piece, you will participate in a drama workshop involving improvisation activities, and the Director of Drama will speak with you individually. It is optional to bring a portfolio that could help during your discussion with the Director of Drama to illustrate the theatre productions, clubs and classes you have participated in and the performances you have seen.

Design

You should present a short demonstration of design from a play of your choice. You may choose to showcase puppetry, masks, sound or set design, makeup, lighting or costume.

Please bring evidence of your work, and talk about your influences, stylistic approach and process. You can use our equipment – such as lighting and soundboards – but please notify us ahead of time if you wish to do this.

It is optional to bring a portfolio that could help during your discussion with the Director of Drama to illustrate, from a design/tech perspective, the theatre productions, clubs and classes you have participated in and the performances you have seen.

The 13+ Drama Scholarship Assessments will take place in the spring of your child’s Year 8.