ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE
DISCOVER DRAMA
2
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE
DISCOVER DRAMA INTRODUCTION
A
t St Dunstan’s College, we are proud to offer an ambitious, diverse and inclusive programme of opportunities that challenge our students to explore their role within society. Whether it be in the studio or on stage, Drama has so much more to offer than just the opportunity to perform. It is such an exciting time for Drama at St Dunstan’s, a subject that this community truly values, prioritises and believes in. From September 2021, we will move into our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre. This new facility includes three fully equipped black box rehearsal spaces, two new LAMDA teaching rooms and our theatre. Whether you are a dancer, a designer, a technician, or a director, these facilities will ensure that every student is able to explore the limitless possibilities contained within the world of theatre. For the subject to remain accessible to all, we offer a wide variety of pathways. If you are seeking to understand performance from an academic perspective, we offer Drama and Theatre Studies at both GCSE and A Level, achieving outstanding results each year. The June 2020 cohort achieved 100% A/A* at A Level and 87% 7-9 at GCSE. Outside of the curriculum, there are so many opportunities to engage with the subject as a part of our Forder Programme, which is ambitious in both breadth and scope. We offer a diverse array of College productions, which have included musical theatre and naturalism as well as
dance and physical theatre; a variety of clubs across a broad range of disciplines such as tech, dance and script writing; workshops with industry professionals and a comprehensive programme of trips and visits which draw on the resources that we are fortunate to have around us to find inspiration. If that still isn’t enough drama to fill a week, we also have a full time LAMDA teacher on site, with all qualifications and styles accounted for. The only real challenge our young thespians ever face is finding the time to fit it all in! Mr Gareth Stewart Director of Drama and Dance
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E I DISCOVER DRAMA
3
‘Drama has given me the courage to become an individual and share my creative voice’ Year 12 student
4
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
GOING OFF SCRIPT At St Dunstan’s, we create an environment in which our students have 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 not just with their fellow cast members, but with the wider student body and even other subject areas, which enriches the work that they produce whilst also 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 all of 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
the 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 within the society we live. 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 and engender a strong sense of personal purpose within all theatrical endeavours.
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
I DISCOVER DRAMA
5
CREATE YOUR OWN STAGE We recognise that our students hold fantastic potential when provided with the correct stimulus and opportunity. We focus on creating safe spaces for the exploration of a diverse array of challenging materials. With the world of tomorrow yet to be defined, contemporary society can prove a daunting and intimidating place for young people seeking to find their voice. Drama at the College facilitates a safe space for students to explore the world around them, equipping them with the courage to stand out from the crowd and make a difference. Whilst our team of staff are responsible for creating an environment that inspires and supports our student
body, we are a department that place a great deal of emphasis on student voice. At all stages of the College, student voice is sought and valued, having a tangible impact at every stage of the artistic process. This includes shaping the Forder Programme so that provision reflects student preference, choosing the productions that we create annually or making suggestions regarding the practitioner styles that we use to influence our work. Once the programme is set, we then encourage students to take on key leadership roles, such as director or producer, further extending their understanding of the theatre and nurturing their potential to become a leader in their chosen field.
‘Drama encourages independence in all aspects of the subject, allowing you to devise and work with freedom to truly be yourself’ Year 12 student 6
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
I DISCOVER DRAMA
7
8
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E I DISCOVER DRAMA
9
‘I really enjoy dance club because it’s super fun and interactive. I like learning all the dance choreography and performing it as well. It is also great because I get to see some of my friends who I don’t see that much because we are in different forms. I love to challenge myself and dance is a fun way of doing that!’ Year 8 student
10
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
BEHIND THE CURTAIN The world of theatre comprises a diverse array of roles and skills, all of which are of equal importance and value to the high-performance outcomes that we seek to achieve at the College. As a department, we ensure that all of our students are exposed to this diversity through a co-curricular programme that is ambitious in breadth and scope. We take full advantage of our South London setting to seek out and develop mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations active in the world of theatre. Recent examples include Frantic Assembly and PunchDrunk, whose vision not only serves to inspire the students, but to remind them of the breadth of opportunity that exists within the profession. We are fortunate to have a parent body that represent some of the biggest names in the industry, who willingly give of their time to support the College. In addition, such experiences with industry professionals are not limited to performers, with the Opening Minds lecture series having hosted a large number of playwrights, producers and directors, once again reminding our students that it’s not only performers for whom the theatre offers opportunity.
The co-curriculum is enriched further by a large number of trips to artistic showings, including but not limited to the theatre, art galleries, orchestral recitals, the opera and West End workshops. Sources of inspiration are never too far away as a result of the diverse community that we are proud to be a part of. Many of our students are inspired by these experiences, and have gone on to work as professionals in the industry, with one of our most dedicated performers recently appearing in the West End sellout, ‘The Ferryman’, directed by Jez Butterworth. RADA and The Central School of Speech and Drama are regular destinations for our alumni, with two of our most innovative technical designers and stage managers recently accepting a place of study on their prestigious degree programmes. In all that we do, we continually encourage students to explore an amalgamation of artistic endeavours, in order that they remain both progressive and agile in their response to the ever-changing world of contemporary theatre.
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
I DISCOVER DRAMA
11
NOT WHAT I LOOK LIKE, BUT WHAT I STAND FOR Although drama often starts and ends with a performance behind the 4th wall, we at St Dunstan’s also encourage students to embrace theatre as a medium through which societal and political injustice can be explored and challenged. Even in moments of global adversity, we believe that drama can inspire and empower students to have a positive impact on the communities that they are a part of. Through engaging with issues of social injustice, students develop a sense of social responsibility, and in response, create work that challenges any form of discrimination or prejudice. Our student led production of ‘Our Land,’ an all-female production that was devised in response to the rise of domestic violence during the pandemic, raised over £2500 in aid of Refuge, a local Lewisham charity that support victims of domestic abuse. Our Phoenix Project, which ran through the first lockdown period, encouraged our community to find ways of finding inspiration and hope in the most challenging of circumstances.
12
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
Through our partnerships with theatre companies such as Created a Monster, Frantic Assembly and The National Theatre, our students remain at the edge of contemporary theatre practice, seeking to continually develop their skill sets and challenge the stereotypical purpose of theatre that is often held by many. One such example was the Nightingales project, a 5 day theatre residential that was directed by external director Briony O’Callaghan in collaboration with the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. Originally conceived by the 1st XV rugby team, the project sought to break the taboo of mental health issues in young male sports players, using Tenesse William’s ‘Not About Nightingales’ play text as a stimuli. By stepping out of their comfort zone and focusing on a purpose far greater than themselves, these young men, most of whom had never stepped foot on a stage, came together to raise over £3000 for a cause close to their heart, beautifully encapsulating what we as a department believe to be the true purpose of theatre in society.
‘It is fun being with my friends and in a space where I can think less about the stress of exams and have more fun’ Year 11 student
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
I DISCOVER DRAMA
13
DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS
AT ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE
100% A*-A A Level Results 2021 & 2020
LAMDA
£3000 Raised for the Charlie Waller Memorial by The Nightingales Project - formed by a cast of the 1XV Rugby team Students regularly combine their studies with stints in West End shows, such as Mowtown and The Ferryman
97% Achieving a distinction in their LAMDA exam in 2020 14
5 Tech students gained places at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Central School of Speech and Drama
October 2021 New state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre opens, including a new theatre
Visiting Students have opportunities to work with professional directors, such as the National Theatre’s Kate Beales
DISCOVER DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E
practicioners
From Frantic Assembly, Created a Monster and Punchdrunk
‘I had so much fun doing Shakespeare club - I loved trying out new pieces and techniques, while learning about Shakespeare’s plays and insults! I 100% recommend joining!’ Year 7 student
S T D U N S TA N ’ S CO L L EG E I DISCOVER DRAMA
15
St an s te a d Ro a d , Lo n d o n S E 6 4 T Y A co -ed u c at io na l , i n d e p e n d e nt Co l l e ge fo r a ge s 3 to 1 8 www. s t d u n s t a n s . o rg . u k 020 8516 7200 Charity number: 312747
An ambitious, forward-thinking community that inspires and supports individuals to thrive