Drama

Drama Curriculum Purpose

The purpose of the Drama curriculum is to help develop our students into strong, creative and confident individuals who are able to work well both independently and as part of a team. It will challenge them to alter their perceptions of the world around them and encourages them to reflect on their own and the work of others. The safe environment created in the drama classroom will be a space where students are encouraged to express their opinions and learn to listen to those of others.

Drama is vital for communicating with others in school and in the wider world, and it is fundamental to learning in all curriculum subjects.

In studying drama, students develop skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing that they will need to participate in society and employment. Students learn to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate with others confidently and effectively.

The skills studied and developed in drama are key to the modern and professional world we live in. Due to the growth in the communication technology industry the need to be able to articulate and present your ideas with confidence across the world becomes more and more vital. Developing skills in presentation and self-confidence is now a key quality required in most, if not all, industries. Added to this, the creative arts industry is one of the UK’s greatest exports around the world.

Creating Drama

Involves working alone or with others to shape ideas into actions and exploring the conventions, resources and techniques of drama with increasing confidence. Creating drama includes discussion, research, questioning, thinking, sharing ideas and experimenting with different techniques to deepen the understanding of texts and situations. Creativity in drama is imaginative, linguistic and physical. The realisation of ideas and the interpretation of texts will involve the selective use of verbal and visual expression to create and convey meanings in an active way.

Performing in drama will include:

• sustaining a role or roles using particular performance styles;
• giving a coherent interpretation of a role;
• communicating with an audience using voice, gesture, movement, timing and space;
• creating a dramatic atmosphere using appropriate lighting, sound and design;
• working cooperatively with others.

Responding to drama can be students reflecting on their own experience of drama.

They also need to express their understanding of what the drama is saying and how it is saying it through dramatic conventions and techniques. Responses can be emotional or intellectual, individual or shared, spoken or written. Whether relating to the experience of performing or of seeing a performance, students will learn to respond to content, form, character, language, symbolism or impact, and can will do so with increasingly analytical insight, using appropriate subject-specific terminology.

(Adapted from Learning to Teach Drama, 11–18 by Andy Kempe and Helen Nicholson)

Skills and Qualities for Life and Employment Gained from Drama and Performing Arts

Teamwork - You’ll need to be able to listen to other team members and take on board each other’s opinions and ideas.

Technical ability - You may need particular technical skills and specialist knowledge of how things work or need to be designed and built.

Physical fitness - You’ll need to be physically fit, agile, and strong.

Time management - You’ll need to be able to manage your time efficiently and make deadlines.

Organisation - You’ll need to be able to plan and schedule work. This could include being able to prioritise what needs to be done and by when.

Communication - If your job requires verbal communication, you may need to write or give speeches and presentations. For jobs which require written communication skills, you will need to write clearly and convincingly – you could be producing or dealing with legal documents or writing articles for a newspaper. You may also require good listening skills, the ability to negotiate, or to be persuasive.

Creativity - You may need specific artistic or design skills for a job, or you may need to draw on a good imagination to come up with creative solutions to business challenges.

Attention to detail - You'll need to be thorough and focused on details of a task. You'll monitor and check work, information, or plans.

Customer service - Any job which involves contact with customers and the public requires good customer service skills. Whether it’s on the phone or face-to-face it’s important to be able to make customers feel welcome, to be polite and listen.

Discipline - You need to know and do what is expected of you. This ranges from organising yourself, being on time, to being responsible. Some jobs need particular discipline skills such as being able to persevere with the task and plans until you accomplish them, or following strict procedures.

Careers using Drama and Performing Arts

Actor - Actors work in film, TV and the theatre.

Arts administrator - Arts administrators manage projects and activities in the creative sector.

Barrister - Barristers represent clients and solicitors in court and through legal proceedings.

Broadcast journalist - Broadcast journalists report the news on TV, radio and online.

Choreographer - Choreographers create and plan dance routines or sequences for dancers or performers.

Cinematographer - A cinematographer is the head of the camera and lighting crew working on a film or TV set.

Copywriter - Copywriters write advertising and marketing content.

Costume designer - Costume designers are in charge of the look and creation costumes and outfits.

Newspaper journalist - Newspaper journalists research and report the news, publishing their work in newspapers and online.

Primary school teacher - Primary school teachers teach children from the ages of four to 11

Set designer - Set designers create the overall look of a theatre, television or film production.

Stage manager - Stage managers makes sure the sets, equipment and props are ready for the opening of a performance.

Television/film producer - Producers manage media projects from beginning to completion.

Theatrical producer - Theatrical producers are creative decision-makers who manage all aspects of putting on a production.

Wedding planner - Wedding planners help organise weddings.

Writer - Writers write articles, books, comics and screen plays.

Youth and community worker - Youth and community workers provide support for young people.

“Drama is a way to express your self and develop a creative imagination.

I like it because it’s fun, I get to speak my thoughts and become more confident.

I’ve gone from being shy and nervous around people to being more confident and accepting around new people.”

 

Harmanpreet 7YWI