At Westbrook Hay we see involvement in Drama as an important building tool of the children’s all-round education. Drama enables children to develop confidence, to explore and express their imagination as well as increase self-awareness to develop the whole person.
Drama is about working as part of a team; we call this the Ensemble. Developing these skills helps the children across all areas of our school life, whether it is a small team, large team, sports team, debating team or even House team you will need to interact with many individuals and learn to share ideas, cooperating with other children, and be a good listener as well as becoming goal oriented.
In drama we look at playing different characters. This helps the children to step into someone else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes. Giving the children the opportunity to gain understanding and develop empathy.
Through drama, the children learn skills to be able to react to new or unexpected circumstances. Using useful team building exercises that help to build trust and a level of focus that is needed for a production or drama assessment, as well allowing the children to transfer these skills into different areas of school life and beyond.
Drama in the Curriculum
Within the timetable drama takes place as a discrete subject. From Year 3 onwards the children have a 40-minute lesson each week. Working in KS2 through the National Curriculum into our Pre Senior Baccalaureate Drama program in KS3.
LAMDA
In addition to curriculum drama, LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) sessions are available for all. Looking at all different aspects of the LAMDA framework, from the Communication Syllabus; Verse and Prose, Reading, Public Speaking to the Performance Syllabus; Acting, Devising and Shakespeare. LAMDA lessons take place mainly before the school day. LAMDA exams, for those who wish to be involved, usually take place in school in May. With performances to a wider audience taking place soon after.
School Plays
There are Plays and Productions throughout the different stages of the children’s time at Westbrook Hay and every child in the school has the opportunity to be a part of the productions.
Traditional Nativities for our EYFS and KS1 children as well as the Year 3 and 4 Christmas Musical take place in the second half of the Autumn Term.
The Years 5 to 8, a musical takes place in the Easter Term. This production is a whole school highlight. The children have the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of theatre making – acting, singing, dance, set building, scenery painting, lighting, sound, make up, back stage etc – this experience is hugely enjoyed by cast, back-stage crew and audience alike. Previous productions have included, The Lion King, Oliver, Aladdin, Bugsy Malone, to name a few.
In the Summer Term the children of the EYFS and KS1 have their own musical production.
Our blossoming Shakespeare festival also takes place in the summer term.