Drama

Plymstock Drama Department

The Drama department is a lively and energetic place, with opportunities to develop skills in many areas of performance.  We work hard to ensure that all pupils have the freedom to express their creative talents in an environment where they feel safe, included, and respected.  Our curriculum has been designed to develop key performance skills through a variety of topics which link to other subject areas such as Citizenship, English, and PSHEE.

The department comprises of one full-time specialist Drama teacher supported by three additional teachers, all highly experienced in performance.  This ensures that students get a variety of teaching styles and approaches as well as subject specialists.  All staff in the department teach drama at KS3, and students at KS4 are taught by one specific teacher throughout their two year course.

The Drama department is delighted to offer our students a state-of-the-art drama studio to rehearse and perform in.  The studio, which can be divided into two individual rehearsal spaces, is fully equipped with the latest lighting and sound equipment.  Pupils at KS4 and KS5 have the opportunity to specialise in an area of design as part of their course.

All students are taught regular Drama lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9, aimed to develop confidence and performance ability through a range of topics chosen to make pupils aware of the world around them.

At Key Stage 4 students are taught 5 lessons of Drama every fortnight.  During this time, pupils will participate in a range of devised and scripted performances.  Throughout the GCSE Drama course students can develop their skills in many different areas, including Acting, Set and Costume design, Sound and Lighting, Stage Management, and Make-up.  We also run many trips to local theatres to give students the opportunity to experience live professional performances on a regular basis.

Students wishing to take Drama in KS5 can opt to choose our A Level Drama and Theatre Studies course.  Here students will study practitioners such as Brecht, Berkoff and Stanislavski, as well as contemporary performance styles; most notably the work of Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh and DV8.  From these experiences, students will create their own performances based on the skills and techniques they have learnt.  During this time students will also analyse plays from playwrights including Chekhov, Berkoff and Ibsen.  We continue to make frequent theatre visits in KS5, and are constantly seeking opportunities to work with local theatre groups such as the Theatre Royal TR2.

The department also puts on an annual production, open to all students.  Our productions have received much praise for the standard of the performances, the design of the sets, and the professionalism of the performers.  Recently our productions of The Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, and We Will Rock You have left audiences amazed by the level of talent and skill demonstrated by the students at Plymstock School.

Events Calendar

Thu 28

End of term 4

March 28
Apr 15

Term 5 starts

April 15
May 24

End of term 5

May 24
View the Calendar