Senior School School Life Drama
Drama
- Pupils between the ages of 13 and 18 are capable of remarkable achievements within the theatre.
- Pupils of all academic abilities are capable of remarkable achievements.
- As a department, we should strive to achieve remarkable things. We aim for professional standards in every aspect of our work.
- The theatre offers a unique opportunity for pupils to make discoveries about themselves and about their place within a community. They will only make those discoveries if they are encouraged to strive for professional standards.
- In every theatrical venture, there is a role for every pupil who is prepared to work with commitment, though it may not be the role they first envisaged or wanted.
- Every theatrical venture is the product of the whole company. Those who do not have a role on stage are just as important as those who do; they should be made to feel that.
“Of all the opportunities available to me at Clayesmore, working and playing in the theatre was one of the most exciting, enjoyable, and rewarding. One of the best aspects of theatre at Clayesmore is meeting and working with like minded (or similarly dramatic!) people of a variety of ages and backgrounds and forming strong creative friendships with them.
No two days in the Peter Burke Memorial Theatre are the same and from painting sets to practising a swordfight, from learning lines to having a corset refitted, there is always something to do – and if you think you’ve done everything, sweep the stage. It is in perpetual need of a broom. Taking part in theatre was one of the most valuable parts of my life and career at Clayesmore, and I really appreciated the opportunity to explore my own creativity and personality through acting. In Clayesmore’s theatre, I learnt how to recite Shakespeare, how to swordfight, how not to do a Yorkshire accent, how to stand on my head, how to breathe silently, and how to moo convincingly. But most of all, I have learnt the creative and emotional value of a strong team. Furthermore, I found that I have abilities that, without taking part in theatre at Clayesmore, I might never have discovered.” (Sarah Baillie)
When you are involved in a Clayesmore production, whether you are an actor, a designer, a technician or even, as I once was, the person who occasionally crawls into small spaces behind the staging to turn on a torch mid performance, you become completely absorbed and are immensely proud of what you have made. This total immersion gives you a great understanding of theatre and not only the desire, but also the confidence to try things out for yourself. So, after being involved in several productions, I decided to write a play for myself. When it was finished, I took it to the Director of Drama, Mr Fraser, to ask what he thought. I wasn’t embarrassed to do this, even though there were aspects of the play which were very personal, because in the drama department you know it’s safe to show your ideas. Mr Fraser suggested that we put on a performance of my play to help me develop it further. The rehearsal process was a hoot, but difficult for the actors too; only because I am so exacting. I was so pleased because everyone took it really seriously, and treated it like they would any other play; there were some very nice posters. When it came to the performance, I was nervous, but elated, because the theatre was full, and then, to hear my words in a real performance was just amazing and surreal and all the actors were fantas tic, I was really proud of them, and I think I cried – I often do. (Thomasin Bailey)