A leading boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 12-18 in Perthshire, Scotland
The drama department is based next to the School Theatre. We teach in the Theatre and the classroom.
We have been in the process of upgrading the facilities in the theatre and backstage in order to provide more effective rehearsal, green room and storage rooms. The theatre has a proscenium arch, lighting grid for the stage and for the auditorium.
Many school plays and productions take place in unusual and challenging configurations of the theatre space and also around the college.
The choice of Drama usually indicates commitment and enthusiasm. Talent is an added bonus, and no one should be put off by feeling that they are shy or retiring. Drama will bring out qualities in pupils which they did not know they possessed.
Junior Entry and Third Form
A broad introduction to drama and its techniques, challenges, and its life-enhancing fun.
Fourth Form and Fifth Form
Both years follow the GCSE course in outline, with the fourth year practising for their assessed year to follow in year Five. The GCSE course relies heavily on two units of practical work in the classroom, assessed by both the teacher and a folio of coursework produced by the pupil. The final term is characterised by the pressures of the acting examination. A brief production is performed for a visiting examiner, and then marked. These three sections of the examination: "Course work and practical" and "Performance" go to make up the final grade. More detailed descriptions exist at http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gcse/drama
Lower Sixth AS
Students take part in a variety of activities for the three units in AS. Willingness to take notes, perform and experiment are important, as is good discipline both on stage and in note-taking. In previous years, students have studied Antigone and Passing Places for the first unit. We go to plays regularly and discussion is vital for the course. A performance for a visiting examiner comes at the end of the year. The AS course description is on the EDEXCEL Website, http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gce/drama/as/8113/
Upper Sixth
A2 students work more on their own with input rather than direction from teachers. More theatre-going promotes knowledge and critical faculties. Students are expected to devise a piece of theatre, comment on theatre they have seen, research historical productions of a play (previous years Comedy of Errors} and perform for an examiner. Further details on EDEXCEL Website, http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gce/drama/adv/9113/
The department tries to put on as much theatre as possible. There is one School Play for the upper school to audition for each year, and one for the Junior School.
There is a House Play Festival Competition for a trophy each year, when individual houses perform one act plays. Some are devised and some are scripted. Much hilarity and team work ensues, and some plays from this source head off to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. The School Play goes to the Fringe approximately every other year. The school has also taken part in the Short Shakespeare National Festival, performing The Taming of the Shrew.
Pupils have directed their own plays, and involved other members of the school in productions in addition to these shows.
"Lush Life" was performed two years ago at The Fringe, directed by Bob Robinson.
"Scary Play?" by Judith Johnson was performed by Junior pupils.
School Plays
Junior Plays
2011 Camp Rock
Mr Charles Youlten BA (Hons) PGCE Dip Drama - Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Miss Lauren Kirk, BA (Hons) RSAMD - Head of Drama and Performance
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