Drama

Francis Holland School hosts one of the finest Drama Departments in London. We believe Drama fosters community and facilitates communication. It is a space in which young people, through the power of language and image, can come to know themselves and others better.

Drama is a thriving and busy department where girls are encouraged to work creatively to explore a plethora of theatrical styles and genres. Girls are inspired to explore drama through different time periods and cultures with an understanding of traditional and contemporary techniques. There is a strong emphasis on ensemble-based work, alongside an understanding of the technical and design aspects of Theatre. Collaboration is at the heart of all that we do in the drama department, and this has cultivated a supportive and friendly environment where girls can explore theatre and the dramatic arts.

In 2023, the Carmel Hall rehearsal space was upgraded with colour and light wash lighting, a new lighting desk, tiered seating, microphones, professional theatre curtains and much more. The Carmel Hall Black Box Studio Theatre, for which it is now known, has transformed the quality of our in-school productions and is allowing pupils to gain invaluable experience in production, design, lighting and many other technical elements of theatre.

For enthusiastic girls there are countless opportunities in the Drama Department, whether it be as a performer or working backstage. Regularly, we perform at theatres in the West End, which affords our girls the wonderful experience of being able to perform in a professional theatrical setting. Our aim is that through regular Drama lessons, girls will build their confidence, develop their creativity, and refine their problem-solving skills. As the theatre practitioner Augusto Boal once said:

“Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it.”

Key Stage 3

In Years 7, 8 and 9, all students will have a weekly drama lesson in which they will explore script writing, devising drama from stimuli and character exploration. Costume design, prop making and directing can also be explored. There is a formal performance each half term, as well the house drama competition.

Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 develop a wide array of Drama skills and techniques. This varies from character-based work through to physical theatre, often encompassing the ideologies of recognised practitioners such as Konstantin Stanislavski, Steven Berkoff and Frantic Assembly. Each drama lesson ensures that students refine their problem-solving skills, teamwork, creativity and confidence. Students have an opportunity to perform in most lessons and are also expected to evaluate their work and that of their peers, ensuring their continual development.

In each year group there is also a focus on responding to a written text, analysing and understanding the social and political context of the text and interpreting it accordingly.

There are also opportunities throughout the school year for pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9 to audition for the major school production, the Lower School production and occasionally professional productions. By the end of this stage of the curriculum, pupils should be able to understand the power of drama to both provoke thought and entertain.

GCSE

We have an increasingly growing intake of students who want to study drama at both GCSE and A Level. We study Cambridge iGCSE and AQA Drama and Theatre at A Level.

The Cambridge iGCSE course has a balance of written work and practical work internally assessed and externally moderated.

Over the two years, pupils learn a succession of drama strategies to interpret and create exciting work, students may choose from a range of performance and production units. Typically, students create a devised piece based on a social or philosophical issue such as the rise of radicalisation, the life of Michael Carroll or even a design unit.

To support the strong physical quality of devised work pupils have the chance to perform in workshops by companies such as ‘Frantic Assembly’. Students see a range of theatre performances at the Bush Theatre, Royal Court and National Theatre and in the West End.

By the end of the course, pupils interpret both a duologue and a monologue from two published plays utilising all the Drama techniques that they have gained over the two years. In recent years, pupils performed in extracts from plays such as ‘Dealer’s Choice’, ‘Constellations’, ‘Things I Know To Be True’ and ‘Swimming With Sharks’. Girls have frequently achieved the very highest grades in GCSE Drama.

A Level

We follow the AQA A Level Drama and Theatre Studies course. This places emphasis on the role of both the actor, director, and designer throughout both years. There is a balance of written and practical work with a final written paper at the end of the course. Pupils emerge with a strong sense of how to make innovative and engaging theatre.

Component one asks pupils to explore two texts from contrasting periods and genres in practical workshops applying performance theory. Currently girls study the classic play texts, Jerusalem by Jex Butterworth and Metamorphosis by Stephen Berkoff

Component two asks pupils to devise a performance as part of an ensemble. This is centred around a specific practitioner. Currently girls have enjoyed applying the techniques of Alecky Blythe, focusing on Verbatim theatre.

Unit three allows pupils to study three extracts from three different texts. These are all studied practically leading to a performance in front of an external examiner. Girls consistently attain the highest grades in A Level Drama and Theatre Studies.

Many students who have studied A Level Drama have since gone on to study Drama at University and at some of the country’s finest drama schools.

Speech and Drama

Speech and Drama is an additional paid for activity and is an incredibly popular choice amongst girls. Pupils can choose Speech and Drama as part of their co-curricular programme, having either individual lessons or working in small groups. Pupils will further develop their communication skills and work on a variety of texts, varying in style and genre, from a wide range of playwrights.

Drama Scholarships

We also offer drama scholarships to our most able and enthusiastic drama students. There is an audition process where candidates will perform a monologue, which we will then re-direct, before interviewing each applicant. Scholarships are available at 11+ and 16+; more information is available here.

Beyond The Classroom

Girls are encouraged to extend their dramatic development beyond the curriculum. They are frequently involved in institutions such as ‘The National Youth Theatre’, the Royal Court Youth Theatre, RADA Youth Theatre and ‘The Shakespeare Schools Festival’. We have been fortunate to hold workshops with some of the country’s most exciting and renowned theatre companies such as ‘Frantic Assembly’ and ‘Young Blood’ fight directors. This challenges our young performers to create their own work incorporating new and innovative disciplines.

Theatre Trips

Being based in central London allows girls the opportunity to attend many theatre trips throughout the school year.

Previous trips to the theatre include

‘Guys and Dolls’ at Riverside Studios
‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’ at Cervantes Theatre
‘Touching the Void’ at The Duke of York Theatre (West End)
‘Frankenstein’ at Southwark Playhouse (NYT)
‘East’ at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington
‘Brief Encounter’ at the Haymarket Theatre (West End)
‘The 39 Steps’ at the Twickenham Little Theatre
‘Consensual’ by the National Youth Theatre at the Soho Theatre
‘Jerusalem’ by Jez Butterworth at the Apollo
‘Our Generation’ by Alecky Blyth at The National Theatre
‘Les Misérables’ – A joint Year 10 trip with the French Department
‘Small Island’ at the National Theatre

We also have excellent subscriptions to watch a range of productions that are on recognised Live Theatre platforms.

Additionally, we have external actors, practitioners and workshop leaders who come in and work with our drama classes and drama scholars.

Staff

The Drama Department is led by Head of Drama Miss Emily Smyth. The other drama teachers are Miss Alice Hanton (Maternity Leave), Miss Georgia Robinson and Miss Rebecca Dawson. The Speech and Drama department is led by Ms Maria Leaf.

Our drama department consists of five members of approachable and enthusiastic staff who, as well as being teachers, have worked professionally, giving our students first-hand industry insights and expertise.