Saint Augustine's Priory School
Education for Life
In the early years the emphasis is on the development of self expression, creativity and confidence in presenting yourself. Freedom to express ideas, creating and playing with characters emerging from the costume box and physical play with props and prompts are vital tools.The girls are gradually introduced to script work and encouraged to bring the written word to life on stage.
Ballet is taught as a curriculum subject in Prep I, encouraging the girls to move to music, and develop confidence and co-ordination skills.
Building on the early years experiences, girls will now start to explore analytical skills, how to break down texts and learn to interpret stimuli in both a practical and theoretical way. The girls begin to apply their analytical skills to written work, in preparation for GCSE.
Studying Drama at this level provides a wonderful opportunity to explore different aspects of theatre practice, from acting to stage management, and directing and lighting design. The girls work practically in groups, complete written coursework and are taken to see one theatrical production per term to broaden their knowledge.
The girls are firstly taken on a whistle stop tour of the history of theatre, during which they are introduced to dramatic terms and concepts, which they will utilise throughout the course. Assessment for Unit 1 takes place over a number of workshops that focus on a theme using different stimuli such as poems, newspaper articles or clips from television and film. The workshops are written up and presented in portfolios, which together with the practical work constitutes 30% of the final mark.
Unit 2 focuses on one play, which the girls explore over a number of workshops. This is another opportunity to put the methods and terminology learnt in the first year into practice. They again write up the process in portfolios, and this whole unit constitutes 30% of their final mark. Studies culminate in the preparation and performance of an exam production (marked by an external examiner) that makes up the final 40% of the mark.
The A Level in Drama and Theatre Studies is an exciting course, during which the girls develop further understanding of the influence of major theatre practitioners, as well as finding their own unique style as actors, directors or designers. As with the GCSE, girls are encouraged to see as much theatre as possible, therefore at least one trip per term is organised.
The course is split into six units:
These units are fairly evenly weighted and represent a combination of both practical assessment, devising, examination papers, critical analysis and performance.
St Augustine’s Priory has an exciting and vibrant Drama department, whose collaboration with the Music department creates innovative performances of a professional standard. The Junior school regularly take to the stage in different events, from ballet displays in the summer term, to concerts and short plays throughout the year.
All girls from Form III to UVI are offered the opportunity to develop skills in acting, choreography, lighting, sound, costume, stage management and stage design in our annual senior school production. This is an excellent opportunity for those not necessarily taking Drama at GCSE or A Level, to take part in an exciting project in a professional theatre.
Dr Faustus
The Summer Term, July 2006 saw the wonders of Dr Faustus performed in the Meadow. Preps, Juniors and Seniors joined forces to create a magical and mystical outdoor performance, with an accompanying fair of refreshments, barbeques, roving magicians and stalls of treats for the audience.
Resurrection Rock
Lower and Upper II displayed their extraordinary singing talent at the end of the Spring Term 2007 in a fun-packed production of Sheila Wilson’s Resurrection Rock.
Bugsy Malone
The Drama and Music departments produced a sell-out production of Bugsy Malone in The Playhouse at The Questors Theatre in April 2007. This production involved over 120 girls and staff from the school, and played to an audience of 600! Its success has formed a close relationship between Questors Theatre and the school.
Watch this space…
St Augustine’s Priory will be returning to tread the boards at Questors Theatre in April 2008 with our production of 'Calamity Jane'.
In addition to theatre trips, workshops and talks are organised for the girls, to develop and consolidate their knowledge of different theatre forms and genres.
Girls who take the subject at A Level and are keen to continue their study of Drama, have the opportunity to apply to top universities such as Bristol, Warwick, Exeter and Birmingham, which all have thriving Drama departments with excellent facilities. The skills the girls develop through Drama will prepare them for a career in a range of industries, from law to the media, as well as theatre, film and television.