‘Why is drama important to me?’ By Anya Vaughan-Smith Y12 T10

‘Why is drama important to me?’ By Anya Vaughan-Smith Y12 T10 I have been studying and taking part in the performing arts for over 11 years, and I feel that drama has had an incredibly positive effect on my life. For one, it has allowed my confidence to grow, and has also given me the opportunity to express my creativity in producing original ideas. I believe, that given the opportunity to take part in the arts, this could be the case for anyone.

In an academic environment where many students strive to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and doctors, it is important to provide a world of creativity in which students can just let go of every-day life and express themselves in any way they choose. I see a need to encourage people to involve themselves in anything creative, whether it be painting, sculpture, film, or performance, as the arts provides no limitations to the creative ideas one can explore.

Drama has always been so important to me, as I have been given the opportunity to embody so many various characters. From playing characters so similar to myself, to becoming a moth. An actor is able to become anything at all, and I think that this provides a great platform for self-expression. The opportunities for performance at this school are a wide variety. A play or musical is put on every year, along with a Christmas pantomime, which always proves a comedic hit. Students are able to take part as both actors and crew, allowing us to experience every aspect of a performance. Various clubs are set up for different year groups, some of which are led by sixth form students, who actively encourage younger years to pursue interests in drama. There are so many opportunities for students to show off their skills and talents, that there are endless characters to explore and pieces to interpret. Being able to become someone else can sometimes be liberating, as it takes you away from your own life for a while, and can also be educational, as you enter someone else’s reality as you step into their shoes, and are able to experience a whole different existence.

As a student studying A level Drama here, I find that the history and ideas behind drama and performance are just as interesting as the physical performance, for where would drama be without innovation and new ideas. Having learned about contrasting practitioners and styles, I know that drama can be anything the creator wants. One may want to convey a political message, to spark a debate, or to educate on a specific event and so on, and this can be achieved in a boundless multitude of ways. This is important to me as it exhibits freedom of the imagination, and diversity of thinking that provides originality in ideas, which is why it is so important to involve everyone in the arts.

As an audience member watching a play, or a musical, or film, you are allowed to forget the happenings of the outside world and just be entertained for a while. It is interesting to come out of watching something and be able to debate and talk about the ideas of the piece with others, what your preferences were and what you drew from it. This is so important as it gets people talking about creativity and sharing ideas, possibly even those who would never think of getting practically involved with the arts themselves. I think a huge part of the arts is to share and create as a whole community.

So, to conclude my speech, why is drama important to me? Because drama can be important to everyone. It brings people together as a group, to inspire and produce so many different ideas. Actors and the audience can learn about other eras and imagine themselves in that world, and the evolution of drama throughout time shows us that diverse people are constantly having new and original ideas. We need to encourage and enthuse people who want to be involved in the arts as well as all those who want to go into STEM subjects as their impact on the world is equally as important.