All Drama courses consist mostly of practical work backed up by meaningful and relevant written work that helps pupils makes sense of what they have learned. Drama has a unit-based approach covering areas from voice and movement skills to issue based work and technical theatre.
Who?
The Drama Department is run by Mrs Sarah MacDonald. All S2-S6 are offered Drama in the Secondary School.
Where?
Drama is taught in a purpose built studio style room in the middle of the secondary building. The rooms have stage lighting, a sound system, costume and props storage with black tabs and blackout blinds to create a “black box” studio like atmosphere. The rooms are also easily adapted for written work. Sometimes the classes also use the assembly hall with its stage and latest lighting equipment.
Who?
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All S2 have one period of Drama a week when they learn about the basics of performance and theatre technology as well as developing key interpersonal skills.
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In S3/4 pupils can choose to study Standard Grade Drama.
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In S5/6 pupils can choose to study Intermediate or Higher Drama.
Academic work is core to all these courses including essay writing from S3-S6. Subject specific terminology and evaluation skills are embedded throughout S2-S6 Drama.
Why?
Drama offers young people the chance to be creative and practical while also learning key skills such as confidence, co-operation, self discipline and self motivation among many others.
All the exam courses are recognised by colleges, universities and employers as being highly valuable in terms of the rigorous academic and interpersonal skills learned. In terms of A Curriculum for Excellence all 4 capacities are core to Drama through the very nature of group work as well as the topics we explore. Opportunities to work with other subjects are always being explored and will continue to be developed.
Homework Support
Monday lunchtimes are set aside for pupils from S2-S6 to come along and get some support with their homework.
Standard Grade Drama pupils will find the following document very useful when studying and revising their Drama terms and definitions.
Self evaluation Guideline sheet
Self Evaluation online version
S2 Homework
Thriller Self Evaluation will be published here soon so that pupils can access it from home
Higher Drama
In Higher Drama we study three Contemporary Scottish Texts as well as The Crucible by Arthur Miller. We write essays on all of these as well perform scenes from the plays for the Acting exam.
