The Department currently has four teachers including an Assistant Head of Drama, plus two Drama Technicians, with the subject being taught to all pupils in the first three years before being given the option to study GCSE Drama and A Level Drama and Theatre.
Drama in the Lower School (Years 7 and 8) and M4 (Year 9) offers all pupils an exciting platform to explore their own creativity and develop their acting and design skills collaboratively; the subject is delivered in a weekly single period of 50 minutes taught in specialist Drama studios. At GCSE and A Level students follow the Eduqas board and have the opportunity to specialise as actors, or designers, attend professional productions and participate in professional workshops from visiting companies.
The Department has two fully equipped technical boxes, with the latest lighting, sound and multi-media equipment and resources and a growing collection of costumes, masks, puppets and props, with a wide selection of set items. The professional technicians regularly make bespoke items of set, liaising directly with students who act as directors in the designing process of staging and production.
Co-curricular drama thrives at the College and four major productions span the year. A senior play, open to members of years 10-13, is performed in the Michaelmas term, followed by a musical in the Lent term and in the younger years, the Lower Fourth (Year 8) and M4th (Year 9) combine for a production performed in May. Additionally, the entire 3rd Form (Year 7) participate weekly in a Performing Arts carousel which combines music, drama, puppetry and dance, and culminates in a showcase in June.
Smaller theatrical events, and activities, occur throughout the year, inspired by student or staff interests. We enter the National Theatre New Views playwriting competition each year and The Vickers’ Project is an annual production which is entirely student-led. Members of the department are encouraged to explore and expand their theatrical passions through contributing to the productions. The department also offers Stage Tech Club and Costume Club for all year groups.
The productions this academic year include: Shakespeare in Love, Les Miserables and Wind in the Willows, and previous productions include: The Addams Family, The Lion King, Our Country’s Good, Tartuffe, The Murders at Argos, Beauty and the Beast, Matilda Jr., My Fair Lady, Jekyll and Hyde, Cabaret, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Footloose, The Government Inspector, 13, Spamalot, Grimm Tales, and Evita.
LAMDA lessons are a popular addition to the performing arts provision and there are senior and junior showcases each year to celebrate their performances. Dance is currently offered as part of the PE curriculum in KS3 and as a co-curricular activity. The College is looking to expand its dance provision in the coming years.