Drama at Marlborough

‘Professional standard theatre in an exciting environment is the best training any actor could get from a school’

Rory Grant (C3 2009-2014), Actor

Drama at Marlborough has always held a special place at the heart of our community. We seek to nurture and develop, inspire and challenge, entertain and provoke. At the centre of our practice is the belief that theatre is an arena for debate; a place where our pupils can practically explore the human condition in all its complexity.

Drama at Marlborough offers a wide range of performance and production opportunities covering a diverse range of material. Productions of contemporary plays sit alongside classical repertoire and pupils explore challenging styles from all over the world. We regularly work with some of the best professional practitioners on our projects; award winning choreographers and fight directors help us to create authenticity.

The Department is also proud of its excellent academic results for both GCSE and A level Drama. Each year pupils successfully gain places at top conservatoires including RADA, LAMDA, Guildhall, Rose Bruford and Bristol Old Vic. Many also go on to study Drama academically at Russell Group universities such as Bristol and Manchester leading to exciting careers as practitioners in both performance and production design.

Scholarships & Bursaries

David Kenworthy Head of Drama

A drama scholar at Marlborough is engaged with all elements of theatre-making; performance, production, writing, directing and design. Our professional production team foster and develop their talents giving them opportunities to nurture their abilities whilst also introducing them to new and exciting theatre skills.

Drama scholars will be involved with school productions, house productions, independent productions as well as the study of Drama at GCSE and A level. Their role is to promote the integral part that the theatre plays in a community like Marlborough – as an arena for debate, experimentation and creative celebration.

Drama scholarships are awarded annually to individuals with exceptional ability and promise. Scholarships are typically honorary but the College can offer means-tested bursarial support of up to 100% of fees paid.

‘I wouldn’t be an actor today without the encouragement, enthusiasm and wisdom of the Drama Department.’

Caitlin Scott (MM 2006-11) Actor.

@MCol_Drama www.marlboroughcollege.org

Professional collaborations

Drama at Marlborough works with award winning choreographers, vocal coaches, fight directors and musicians who offer professional support and training to pupils in our productions.

Drama for Everyone

Our collaboration with the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York provides pupils with the opportunity to work with leading playwrights who mentor and promote new writing for theatre. We also regularly hold workshops and masterclasses that further inspire our pupils’ practice.

We offer regular trips to the National Theatre, The Royal Court, The Barbican and The Donmar Warehouse in London. Together with our online platforms, pupils have access to theatre from all over the world ensuring their experience is as diverse as possible.

Drama at Marlborough is available to everyone at every level of experience and ability. With three major productions each term, plays are cast by open audition from all year groups. A play performed by the Shell (Year 9) takes place in the Summer Term and another for Remove (Year 10) and Hundred (Year 11) ensures a balance between inclusivity and excellence.

Unique to Marlborough is our TinyByte programme that allows our pupils to create original, short and experimental work that is shared (or ‘scratched’) in informal performances through the year. This work is written, directed and performed entirely by pupils but fully supported by experts.

Our production team includes a production manager together with lighting and costume designers enabling us to produce projects that are ambitious in scale, detail and creativity.

Facilities Star Performers

The Department works principally in two wellequipped spaces. The Bradleian Theatre is excellent as a teaching room and doubles as a 135-seat studio theatre. This space is ideal for the performance of pupils’ own work and for the hosting of the professional touring companies that visit the College several times each year.

The Ellis Theatre boasts an exciting and distinctive atmosphere and can be converted into a variety of stage formats. In a conventional end-stage configuration, it accommodates just over 200; as a thrust stage it holds 360 and, as a theatre-in-theround, it seats nearly 450 including almost 100 in the surrounding balcony. Pupils thus gain experience of performing in a variety of spaces.

Carys Wright (MO 2005-10): After leaving Marlborough, Carys set up her own theatre company focusing on the development of new-writing. Carys’ most recent project, How to Catch a Bear, has been accepted by the prestigious VAULT festival in London premiering in March 2022.

Louis Boyer (TU 2008-13): Louis gained a place at RADA where he trained to be an actor. Since graduating Louis has worked extensively in theatre, film and television most recently appearing in The Witcher series for Netflix.

Rory Grant (C3 2009-14): After leaving Marlborough, Rory read English at Oxford before embarking on an MA in Performance at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Since graduating, Rory has gone to work extensively in television and film most recently starring in a new project directed by Danny Boyle.

Carys Wright (MO 2005-10) Louis Boyer (TU 2008-13) Rory Grant (C3 2009-14)

What we can offer you

Drama at Marlborough is the beginning of a lifelong passion and offers a unique opportunity to explore, create and experience live performance and to appreciate its important place in our history and culture.

• A wide range of performance and production opportunities covering a diverse range of material.

• Our TinyByte programme enables pupils to create original, short and experimental work.

• Means-tested bursary places with up to 100% of fees paid.

• Collaboration with industry professionals.

• Regular theatre trips.

• Preparation and support for Further Education within the Dramatic Arts.

• The opportunity to be part of the vibrant cultural life of the College.