The Drama Department at Bristol Cathedral School aims to provide an engaging and stimulating experience of drama for all students at the school. The department is staffed by three teachers, each of whom has a notable expertise in a particular area of the subject. Our combined skills allow us to offer students a high quality and comprehensive introduction to all aspects of theatre.

Resources

The Drama Department is based in its own purpose built studio, The Fortune Theatre. The flexible design of the studio theatre accommodates the use of a wide range of staging forms and it is equipped with excellent sound and lighting systems. It is perfect for all manner of workshops and productions. We utilise the facilities as fully as possible, encouraging our students to experiment with the form and style of their performance work and offering them creative and practical freedom in the use of the technical equipment. Our students find the studio theatre a vibrant and safe place to practise their skills; it is always full of activity.

Years 7 – 9

Drama is taught in tutor groups for the first three years. Each class receives one lesson per week. The emphasis at this stage is in providing a sound foundation in the basics of the subject and in fostering a sense of confidence and creativity. Over the three years, students experiment through improvisation with a wide range of concepts and techniques. They accumulate a sound understanding of how to stage effective drama. In particular, they are introduced to work on character, narrative and physical skills. In Year 9, as preparation for the GCSE course, the focus of lessons is on the process of devising drama. We find that our students approach drama in highly committed and energetic manner.

GCSE

Drama is taught as a GCSE option in Years 10 and 11. We follow the AQA specification. The course is assessed through practical coursework over the two years (60%) and in a written paper at the end (40%). During the course, students will study at least two plays in their entirety as well as many others via extracts, take part in several trips to live productions and perform four pieces of their practical work to an audience. Those students who are interested in the technical side of the subject may base 70% of their assessment on design and technical skills. GCSE Drama is a popular option at the school, which the students approach with a real interest. The specification is particularly flexible and allows students to delve into a wide range of dramatic texts and styles. They use their knowledge from teacher led sessions to explore their own interests in skills and issues. At this stage, we like to encourage students to create performance that truly engages an audience.

AS/A Level

We follow the AQA specification, Drama and Theatre Studies. The course is assessed through practical work (40%) and end of year written papers (60%). In Year 12, students will study two plays, largely via practical exploration, devise their own piece of group performance, visit several outside productions and be introduced to the work of at least one major theatre practitioner. In Year 13, students will study two further plays, perform their own interpretation of a play extract, visit several more outside productions and be introduced to the work of another major theatre practitioner. In each year, for the practical components, students nominate a particular skill to be assessed: acting or one of the technical/design skills. It is possible to answer acting and/or design based questions in the examinations.

Drama at this level is immensely stimulating and engrossing. We expect and are rewarded by very high standards in commitment and achievement from our students. Many of our students go on to study performance, design or media based courses at university.

School Productions

Each year, the Drama Department produces three or four plays. These are open to all members of the school. In the last two years, we have performed As You Like It, Bouncers, Shakers, Arcadia, Mankind, Fear and Misery of the Third Reich and The Changeling. These have all been well received by the audiences that watched them and enjoyed by those who took part. There is nothing like putting on play for sheer fun, friendship and a real feeling of achievement. Bristol Cathedral School is buzzing with excitement and interest.