The Drama Department is an active, flourishing department at The Oratory School. With a plethora of actors, directors, designers, technicians, stage managers, and academics, there is something for everyone here. 

Drama and Theatre offers a practical and challenging course of study, which encourages students to develop and apply an informed, analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding Drama and Theatre. It gives students the opportunity to understand the place of relevant theoretical research in informing the processes and practices involved in creating theatre and the place of practical exploration in informing theoretical knowledge of Drama and Theatre. Students are expected to develop an understanding and appreciation of how the social, cultural, and historical contexts of performance texts have influenced the development of Drama and Theatre, as well as to learn the practices used in 21st Century theatre-making. Students will experience a range of opportunities to create theatre, both published text-based and devised work, and participate as a theatre maker and as an audience member in live theatre.

Students should be able to work collaboratively and demonstrate a range of theatre-making skills, showing creativity and independence in order to become effective theatre makers.

Mrs Danielle Byrne – Head of Drama

Students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd Form have Drama lessons once a week. Here, the focus is on an introduction to basic dramatic techniques and conventions. Aims are to develop teamwork and public speaking skills, as well as introducing key concepts from Theatre History, to better prepare the pupils to take up GCSE Drama.
 

GCSE

The Edexcel GCSE in Drama fosters candidates’ creativity, personal growth, self-confidence, communication and analytical skills through the acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding. This GCSE course teaches the skills of a performer, deviser, director and designer. There will be opportunities to attend live theatre and work with professionals in the industry. A visiting examiner will attend the final GCSE performance along with an invited audience. We will study the set text DNA by Dennis Kelly.

A Level - Theatre Studies

The Edexcel Theatre Studies A Level offers a practical and challenging course of study, which encourages students to develop and apply an informed, analytical framework for devising, performing, interpreting text and understanding Drama and Theatre. It gives students the opportunity to understand the place of relevant theoretical research in informing the processes and practices involved in creating theatre and the place of practical exploration in informing theoretical knowledge of Drama and Theatre. Learners are expected to develop an understanding and appreciation of how the social, cultural and historical contexts of the set performance texts ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare and Colder than Here by Laura Wade have influenced the development of Drama and Theatre, as they learn how to apply their knowledge as a performer and as a designer, as well as to learn the practices used in 21st Century theatre-making. Students will experience a range of opportunities to create theatre, both published text-based and devised work, and participate as a theatre maker and as an audience member in live theatre. There will be a number of theatre trips through the course, at least one each term.

Students should be able to work collaboratively and demonstrate a range of theatre-making skills, showing creativity and independence in order to become effective theatre makers.

The course examination content is made up of coursework, two performances over the two year course and a written paper at the end of U6th Form.

There are regular theatre trips, usually to London. Past performances seen include:

• Hamlet
• As You Like It
• Hedda Gabler
• DNA
• Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2
• Wuthering Heights
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Company
• The Unreturning
• Othello
• Straight Line Crazy

We have a flourishing LAMDA programme with four dedicated LAMDA teachers offering solo tuition.

We also offer LAMDA and Drama Peer Mentoring with a group of 12 Year 7-10 students at a local comprehensive school. Under the guidance of Mrs Byrne, the project involves each Oratory student being responsible for a pupil who they mentor, guide and direct from the starting to end point of a LAMDA examination. We are delighted to offer this joint community collaboration.

There are many opportunities for students to perform at The Oratory. If they are not involved in LAMDA, GCSE or A Level Drama performances, students can participate in productions for Upper School, Middle School and Lower School spread throughout the year. There is also an inter-house Drama Competition. 

Past productions include: As You Like It, Bugsy Malone, Kipps, Macbeth on Tour, Matilda, One Man Two Guvnors, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Importance of Being Earnest and The IT.

There is also a Drama club that focuses on improvisation techniques.

GCSE

Beyond the course: The Edexcel GCSE offers a broad and coherent course of study which enables learners to:

• apply knowledge and understanding when making, performing and responding to drama
• explore performance texts, understanding their social, cultural and historical context including the theatrical conventions of the period in which they were created
• develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performances
• work collaboratively to generate, develop and communicate ideas
• develop as creative, effective, independent and reflective learners able to make informed choices in process and performance
• contribute as an individual to a theatrical performance reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and processes undertaken in contemporary professional theatre practice
• adopt safe working practices.

A Level

Beyond the course: In addition to the opportunity to study Drama at university or at a theatre specialist institution, A Level Theatre Studies gives students numerous other skills that will be vital as they enter the workplace. This course will improve public speaking skills, it will teach empathy, and will promote the value of teamwork. Students can gain confidence and be able to manage their stress levels, but will also learn some humility. It can teach how to deal with rejection and students will know how to work to a deadline. It will improve reading skills and give a higher appreciation for the written and spoken word. Drama develops the habit of being proactive, improving communication skills and the ability to memorise information. It allows students to develop some real-world professionalism.