Cranleigh Senior drama students follow a five-year artistic pathway from ages 13 to 18, designed to nurture talent, build confidence and prepare students for future study and careers in the performing arts.

Through practical experience, expert teaching and industry insight, pupils develop their craft both in the classroom and through ambitious productions. They benefit from direct connections with the professional theatre world through workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one training with actors, directors and designers, while opportunities to perform in professional theatre venues provide valuable experience of larger-scale productions.

Led by Director of Performing Arts Stephen Whitson, an experienced West End director, the department gives pupils insight into the standards and expectations of the professional industry. Backstage and technical roles are valued equally alongside performance, with students gaining hands-on experience in technical theatre, production management and the skills required to run full-scale productions.

Cranleigh’s strong performing arts pathway has supported pupils in progressing to leading drama schools in the UK and USA, with alumni going on to pursue successful careers across the creative industries.