Head of Department: Rousy Begum
Deputy Head of Department: Hannah Meltzer
Members of department:
- Robyn Kirkby
- Anna Messides
- Jessica Williams
- Technicians: Keith Merkelt, Diarmuid Selattey
Drama Department – Overview
The Drama department upholds a firm commitment to extending and developing pupil skills and understanding through timetabled Drama lessons and through extra-curricular activities and external collaboration.
The department supplements the work explored in class with regular trips to watch live theatre, and workshops delivered by visiting theatre practitioners and companies.
Drama Curriculum at Morpeth
KS3
Drama is a much valued part of the curriculum at Key Stage 3 when pupils are introduced to key performance techniques and drama conventions. All schemes of work at KS3 endeavour to teach through and about the medium of Drama.
The KS3 curriculum also includes an exciting dance drama Y8 project, which has proven to be very successful with the groups who have participated in the event.
KS4
At Key Stage 4, Drama candidates follow the Edexcel GCSE Drama syllabus and BTEC Performing Arts syllabus, and the vast number of pupils opting for Drama at the close of Year 9 is testimony to the subject’s popularity and status within the school. The department’s GCSE results have remained consistently high during the past few years and many of our ex-pupils progress to study Drama, Theatre Studies or Performing Arts at A-level and beyond.
KS5 Curriculum
We are part of the Cambridge Heath Sixth Form consortium and have had successful years of running the course. Drama candidates follow the Edexcel GCE Drama and Theatre Studies syllabus which covers a range of study. The teaching and learning is varied from practical and theoretical approach in modern performances through a range of plays. The standard of work and results in the subject has been excellent. We are hoping to continue to develop extra-curricular opportunities for students to enhance their learning and performance.
Facilities
The Teaching Space
Each member of the Drama staff has their own designated teaching space in one of the three studios. Each of the three Drama studios is equipped with: a professional-standard lighting rig; an amplified sound system; a digital projector and 7 metre projector screen; fully-sprung floors and the capacity to achieve total blackout.
The Theatre
In addition to these fabulous studios, the Performing Arts building also houses a 250 seat theatre. The theatre boasts: a fabulous lighting rig; a powerful sound system; sprung floors; raked, retractable seating; a running galley and a backstage area. Drama pupils can expect to have some of their Drama lessons in the theatre space, and this space is utilised to stage extra-curricular theatre productions and Year 11 GCSE performance exams.
Extra curricular Drama activities
Shakespeare Schools Festival & Productions
The Drama department is proud of its connections with this prestigious national annual festival for the past 5 years and have had many successful productions that have been performed across West London Theatres. We enjoyed great success with our recent production of ‘Midsummer Nights Dream’ (2010), which was selected again at an Annual Festival Fundraising event. The Festival is inclusive for all pupils ranging from Year 7 to Y11.
Collaboration with Practitioners and companies
The Drama department has worked hard to build links and relationships with many established artists and companies practising in the Performing Arts field. Each year our Year 10 pupils enjoy a series of professional actors techniques workshops delivered by practitioners who have worked extensively in London’s West End and in USA.
We additionally have links with the Barbican and the National Theatre, and frequently collaborate with local companies including: The Complete Works Theatre, The Theatre Royal: Stratford East and Scene Productions. In recent years we have worked closely with Queen Mary University undergraduates on projects for KS5, KS3 and KS2.
More information will be available from the Morpeth drama website launching soon.