|
Director of Drama, Mr James Copp
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Drama Teacher, Miss Nikki Lockwood :
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Theatre Manager, Mr Mark Jenkins:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Drama is such an important part of school life, and many parents, pupils and staff are quickly struck by how seriously Cranleigh approaches performance in all its forms. Indeed, many pupils cite the standard of drama at Cranleigh as one of the reasons that they chose the school.
Taking part in a production, whether as an actor, director, designer or technician provides an unparalleled challenge which builds teamwork, creates long-lasting friendship and gives young people social confidence. It’s also extremely enjoyable and lasts among the most memorable experiences of school years.
Academic Drama affords pupils an opportunity to study in a different way, and students certainly value having a number of lessons per week that aren’t spent behind desks! Choosing drama as part of the curriculum and as a GCSE or A-Level choice affords pupils at Cranleigh a balanced timetable, and provides communication skills that in later life are useful most importantly during interviews.
The principal focus of drama at Cranleigh is for pupils to enjoy performing, whilst being pushed to reach the highest standards possible. We also recognise the important role that the drama department plays in providing entertainment for the whole school and as such value each pupil or member of staff who may come and watch a play just as much as those who work so hard to mount productions.
Please enjoy looking around the drama pages of the website to find out about performance spaces, staff and recent productions (where you will find reviews and photo galleries). Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require any further information.
James Copp
Head of Drama
|
|
-
Cranleigh School Technical Theatre
-
At Cranleigh, involvement in Drama can be behind the scenes as well as on the stage and this is the job of Cranleigh School Technical Theatre (CSTT). The Theatre Manager runs a team of technicians and designers who provide the technical support to all School productions and events, from the smallest House Play to the largest musical. The team comprises pupils from the Fourth Form to the Upper Sixth and there is training in place to teach lighting and sound operation, stage management, set construction, costume and makeup. More experienced pupils will start to produce their own designs and take key roles in the running of productions. Please explore the site to learn more about our work and contact me if you are interested in joining us.
Mark Jenkins
Theatre Manager
-
Choosing Drama at AS / A2
-
 The Drama and Theatre Studies course at AS and A2 is split in to two elements, 40% practical and 60% written examination, notably the opposite weightings to GCSE.
At AS, in preparation for the written paper, students study a set text play, currently 'A Doll's House' by Henrik Ibsen answering questions on their directorial and acting suggestions for the characters. Students also attend live theatre productions, recent theatre trips including: 'Beautiful Burnout', 'Blackwatch', 'One Man Two Guvnors', 'Decade' and 'Lovesong'. These visits are in preparation for the other element of the written paper, in which the students must critically assess a performances success.
For the practical element of the AS Theatre Studies course, pupils study the work of a known theatre company or practitioner and perform an extract from a scripted play in that
style. Currently students study the work of physical theatre company 'Frantic Assembly'; work in class is supplemented by the company themselves who come into school to provide a workshop. The pupils rehearse and develop the performance, which is assessed by an external examiner.
The A2 course looks at two set texts, one pre 20th century and one 20th century or contemporary. The former is studied in a similar way to AS, examining acting and directorial suggestions for the characters. The questions on the latter require the students to create a full theatrical interpretation of the text, and articulate their vision for the production. The A2 pupils continue to attend theatre visits with the AS pupils to further expand their own experience.
The practical element at A2 sees the pupils devise their own piece in a
particular style, this means fully realising a production from concept to performance themselves. Currently, we look at 'Verbatim theatre', a contemporary style of political theatre which uses the actual word of politicians and celebrities, alongside public opinion to create a piece which examines a particular topic. Past successful productions examined the dangers of alcohol, and the student fee rise protests. The work is once again assessed by an external examiner.
-
Drama Overview
-
Director of Drama, Mr James Copp jlc@cranleigh.org
Drama Teacher, Miss Nikki Lockwood :nil@cranleigh.org
Theatre Manager, Mr Mark Jenkins:mrj@cranleigh.org
Drama is such an important part of school life, and many parents, pupils and staff are quickly struck by how seriously Cranleigh approaches performance in all its forms. Indeed, many pupils cite the standard of drama at Cranleigh as one of the reasons that they chose the school.
Taking part in a production, whether as an actor, director, designer or technician provides an unparalleled challenge which builds teamwork, creates long-lasting friendship and gives young people social confidence. It’s also extremely enjoyable and lasts among the most memorable experiences of school years.
Academic Drama affords pupils an opportunity to study in a different way, and students certainly value having a number of lessons per week that aren’t spent behind desks! Choosing drama as part of the curriculum and as a GCSE or A-Level choice affords pupils at Cranleigh a balanced timetable, and provides communication skills that in later life are useful most importantly during interviews.
The principal focus of drama at Cranleigh is for pupils to enjoy performing, whilst being pushed to reach the highest standards possible. We also recognise the important role that the drama department plays in providing entertainment for the whole school and as such value each pupil or member of staff who may come and watch a play just as much as those who work so hard to mount productions.
Please enjoy looking around the drama pages of the website to find out about performance spaces, staff and recent productions (where you will find reviews and photo galleries). Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require any further information.
James Copp
Head of Drama
-
School Productions
-
Michaelmas Term
Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen
Mr Martin Allison, ima@cranleigh.org
Performance Dates: 5th - 7th October 2011 7:30pm in VCT
A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare
Director, Miss Nikki Lockwood; nil@cranleigh.org
Performance Dates: 15th - 18th November 2011 7:30pm in Speech Hall
Lent Term:
The Producers, adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music composed by Brooks, arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman
Director, Mr James Copp: jlc@cranleigh.org
Musical Director, Mr Marcus Pashley: mcp@cranleigh.org
Performance Dates: 5th -9th March 2012 7:30pm in Speech Hall
Summer Term:
Beasts and Beauties, retold by Carol Ann Duffy, dramatised by Melly Still and Tim Supple
Director, Miss Nikki Lockwood: nil@cranleigh.org
Performance dates: T.B.C May 2012 7.30pm in VCT
-
House Plays
-
Lent Term 2012: North/Cubbit House Plays
Performance dates: 7th - 9th February 2012 7.30pm, VCT
Tickets are free and are available from the Common Room Secretary, Mrs Diana Pettifer: email dmp@cranleigh.org or tel: 01483 542010
Previous house plays:
Michaelmas Term 2011
EAST: Trammel, by Michael Leslie
Click for review View Photo Gallery
Lent Term 2011
LOVEDAY: Up 'n' Under, by John Godber
Click for Review View Photo Gallery
Michaelmas Term 2010
NORTH: Bouncers, by John Godber; Time Flies by David Ives; Sure Thing by David Ives
Click for Review View Photo Gallery
Lent Term 2010
WEST: The Bear, by Anton Chekov; Bus Stop by Christopher Durang
Click for Review View Photo Gallery
Michaelmas Term 2009
SOUTH: Shakers, by John Godber; Star Chamber by Noël Coward
Click for Review
Lent Term 2009
EAST: She’s Done it Again, by Jon Pertwee
Click for Review View Photo Gallery
Michaelmas Term 2008
CUBITT: An Ideal Husband
Click for Review
-
Activities
-
Technical Theatre
Master in Charge: Mr Mark Jenkins (MRJ@cranleigh.org)
Tech Theatre Activity: Thursday 2.15-2.55pm
Daily Technical Work: 4.30pm - Start of Prep
Costume Design
Costume Design Activity: Hannah Wallis, visiting design teacher.
Thursday 2-3pm, Textiles Studio
IVth Form Drama Club
Miss Lizzie Bourne; information to follow.
-
Choosing Drama at GCSE
-
 The Drama GCSE course is split into two elements, 60% practical and 40% written examination.
Pupils are required to submit two marks for separate pieces of coursework for which the majority of students opt to choose Acting, although Set Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design are also available. One piece of coursework culminates in a scripted performance and the other a devised performance in which the students must write the piece themselves. Students will complete two pieces of coursework in the LV, and two pieces in the UV from which the two best marks will be chosen. Currently students in the UV look at the work of seminal playwright Arthur Miller and the lower fifth Terence Rattigan, to be followed by work on adaptations of dark fairytales and Theatre in Education.
In the summer of the UV, pupils take a written examination which tests their understanding of their own performance and rehearsal techniques for both pieces of coursework. The pupils answer questions about the rehearsal process of their devised piece, and their understanding of their set text play studied for scripted performance.
Pupils on the GCSE course also visit the theatre regularly during the course to inspir
e their practical work. Recent theatre trips have included: '39 Steps', 'Punk Rock', 'Warhorse', 'Billy Elliot', 'The Browning Version', 'The Wild Bride' and 'Matilda'.
|
Current Community