Drama and Theatre Studies Subject Area
General
The team is well established with three specialist staff. All students have one Drama lesson (I hour) per week in Years 7-8
and the importance and significance of the subject in the curriculum is clearly recognised by the school. At present there
are 3 groups of approximately 25 in Years 9, 10 and 11, taking Drama and Theatre Arts GCSE (AQA). There are two A2
Theatre Studies (EDEXCEL) groups in both Years 12 and 13. The department is keen to take students to a wide range of
theatre, from Frantic Assembly and Knee High, to the National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre.
Students have regular opportunities to visit theatres either locally or further afield in places such as London or Brighton.
Many students belong to local theatrical groups and take advantage of attending County-run courses or are participating
in Youth Theatre productions. Others have been on tour with Youth Theatre and have been part of the National
Theatre’s “International Connections” Festival. Many of our students have gained places at prestigious drama schools
and in Theatre workshops.
Facilities
The school is fortunate in having some of the largest facilities in West Sussex. At Church Street (Years 7 and 8) there is a
carpeted specialist drama room. There are cupboards for storage for props. The room also has black out and a good
functional lighting and sound system, as well as a PC and video cameras.
At Shooting Field (Year 9 to 13) most teaching is conducted in the Drama Hall theatre. The school uses the theatre for
assemblies and for large school functions but the teaching programme is rarely inconvenienced. Seating 350 and
licensed for 300 for public performances, it is a pleasant, versatile and modern theatre with raked seating around a
central ‘well’ so that it can be used either in the round, with a large apron stage, or using the large proscenium arch stage.
The theatre has a computerised lighting system, a stock of stage lights and a professional sound system. There is a foyer
area, which includes a bar, toilets and a box office, as well as 2 PC’s. There are two full-time technicians who assists
Drama as required.
Media is closely linked to the team’s work using the Imac editing packages, digital cameras, etc. There is a projection unit
and a 30ft wide retractable screen in the Hall, as well as a Smartboard. Exciting visual media work has been a growth
area in Drama.
At the rear of the theatre is a studio theatre, which includes black out, its own lighting and sound system, a large costume
storage area with storage outside for scenery. It also has an IWB and 2 PC’s. This is used primarily for AS/A2 level
teaching but, as it also houses all the department books and plays and is available for use for other Years at many other
times. A converted Portahut gives us additional rehearsal space.
Extra-curricular
The school prides itself on a long and distinguished track record of school productions directed both by staff and by one
of our Governors. These run over five performances and attract large audiences. This is supplemented by evening
performances of GCSE and AS/A2 exam work. In recent years, notable productions have included “Jekyll & Hyde”,
“Joseph & the Technicolor Dream Coat”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Les Miserables”. “Fame”, “High School
Musical”, “Antigone”, “My Mother said, I Never Should”, “The Cagebirds”,“Tin Can People”. “Hymns”, “Art”, “Breathing
Corpses” and “Low Level Panic” are some of the works which have been performed as part of the AS exam, as well as
devised work for A2. The public performance element is a huge strength of the subject team and a celebration of the
students’ achievements.
The Community
Steyning Grammar School is a community school and the theatre is used extensively by local amateur dramatic societies,
children’s groups and visits from professional companies for performances. It is also used for large meetings, fashion
shows, rock band nights and dinner dances. The team’s involvement in the Steyning Festival has been a growth area,
with mask workshops at the school and a local playwright working with students. Students are currently working on
Community Theatre as part of the school’s 400th Anniversary in May,
The Area Team for the Creative Performing Arts
Drama is part of this Area Team which also includes Art and Design and Music. This Area Team was formed in
September 2002. There is an improvement plan for the Arts which underpins the subject team improvement plans, we
have used area team, postholder and subject team meetings constructively to ensure that all teachers have had an input
into this planning. An Arts policy exists and the school has achieved Artsmark Gold. The teams have collaborated on
Creative Arts Days with Same Sky, involving Year 7 students in creating performances which were presented to Primary
School Students. All of the teams are involved in various activities which liaise with feeder schools and the local
community.
Catherine Ludlow
Drama Team Leader
April 2014