GOING OFF SCRIPT

At St Dunstan’s, we create an environment which gives our students the courage and confidence to create their own work, rather than simply reproducing the work of others. With a firm belief in the power of ensemble performance, each individual becomes part of a team, creating work that they can all be proud of. We encourage students to work collaboratively and not just with their fellow cast members, but with the wider student body and even other subject areas, enriching the work that they produce and creating opportunities for them to learn from each other. Rather than specialising early, they build a broad portfolio of skills and understanding.

We believe that theatre should be experiential, and we encourage our students to consider their work from the audience’s perspective. Instead of only working within the more traditional approach of using a 4th wall, students at St

Dunstan’s create theatre that is immersive, encapsulating all senses and ensuring that the purpose of the work can be experienced as well as understood.

This progressive approach to performance is one that can be seen equally in our curriculum, with our choice of texts and stimuli material remaining contemporary and relevant to society today. Our students are challenged to work beyond the syllabus and to consider how their own academic study could benefit those around them, whether that be in highlighting social injustice through our support of external agencies or empowering peers to take action in their own community and stand in support of worthy causes. Whether they are entertaining or educating their audience, drama students at the College understand the power of theatre to illicit change.