Drama

At Westbrook Hay we see involvement in Drama as a most important and richly rewarding facet of a child’s education. Drama enables children to develop confidence, to explore and express their imagination, to increase self-awareness and to interact and share in the experience of creative teamwork. Drama provides rich and rewarding experience, and is intrinsic to the development of the whole person.

Drama in the Curriculum
Within the timetable Drama takes place as part of the English Curriculum. Particularly, it is used as a stimulus to creative writing, bringing ideas and characterization to life, while allowing the opportunity for collaborative work and textual exploration. Drama is used in other subject areas, too: for example, in History or Religious Studies, where the enactment of stories and events aids understanding and promotes deeper questioning of the topic being explored.

Drama Activity/LAMDA
In addition, Drama is one of the many activities on offer on Thursday afternoons for both Middle and Upper School – when such aspects as group and individual dynamics, characterization, role-play, mime and improvisation are explored, and the preparation and performance of scenes from plays takes place – including those written by the children. Performances often take place during School Assemblies.

LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exams are also prepared for at this time, and these include spoken verse and prose, monologues and duologues. Examinations, for those who wish to be involved, usually take place in London in June.

School Plays
We have a Middle School production at the end of the Christmas term, and an Upper School production at Easter, each involving the majority of the children therein. These take the form of both plays and musicals, enabling the children’s involvement in many areas of theatre – acting, singing, dance, set building, scenery painting, lighting, sound, make up etc – and they are hugely enjoyed by cast, back-stage crew and audience alike.