Drama
Drama at RGS is an important, vibrant and energetic part of the life and ethos of the School. Boys have curriculum drama lessons in the Second and Third Form with the opportunity to study the subject at GCSE and A Level.
In the Second Form boys have one lesson a week dedicated to drama which stimulates creativity, ensemble skills, empathy and development of both confidence in presenting and expressing themselves. Boys will learn vocal, physical and some technical skills.
Third Form boys will begin to learn more demanding skills in preparation for those who wish to pursue the subject at GCSE level as well as to enhance their abilities and confidence should they en gage in any of the numerous extracurricular drama opportunities the School offers.
We are proud of the excellent academic achievements of our students in Drama and Theatre Studies at AS/A2 Level and of the high standards they reach in performance work throughout the school. During the last ten years alone a significant number of students from the RGS have gone on to provide leadership in drama at university level, in such companies as OUDs and the Cambridge Footlights, before pursuing careers in film, television or live theatre.
The discipline, as taught at RGS, delivers a two strand approach to study. The first strand addresses the theoretical and cultural / historical aspect of the subject. By gaining awareness of a wide range of dramatic genres and styles as well as understanding the contribution and approaches of practitioners such as Stanislavski, Brecht, and Artaud, students learn to develop their own approach and critical appreciation of the art of performance. The second strand of teaching focuses on the practical “transferrable skills” of creativity, empathy, confidence and social integration that actor training develops in individuals.
The extracurricular provision of drama in the School exists to enable as many students as possible to perform or take a technical role in full scale shows. For the last two years RGS has performed as part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival in Michaelmas Term, produced a main school production (open to all boys) in Lent Term as well as a Junior production in Trinity Term. There is a regular weekly Junior Drama Society, an annual Third Form Drama competition, an Arts Festival play and opportunities for boys to stage their own initiatives.