Senior School - Drama
Staff
Mr Paul Beeson, BA, PGDE
At Beaconhurst Drama is taught as a class subject from J3 – S2. There is then the option of continuing with standard Grade, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher courses. The school also has the option of private classes based on the exams run by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Transition-S2 Courses
These courses aim to achieve the following:
- To enrich the lives of pupils by contributing to their personal and social growth and by developing their knowledge and understanding of themselves and others.
- To offer opportunities for developing language and movement skills and abilities necessary to interact positively with others.
- To encourage the development of individual talents and abilities, not only through the curriculum, but through a range of extra curricular activities including Drama department productions.
- To encourage the interest and enjoyment of Drama and Theatre by offering a wide range of projects and trips available to all.
Course Content:
The content is designed to offer a broad insight into Drama and course work includes five main areas:
- Skills and techniques
- Thematic
- Social Issues
- Theatre Arts
- Playwrights and Styles
S3-S6 Courses:
Standard Grade, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher courses are offered in Drama.
The newly revised Expressive Arts programme has brought a new challenge for S3/4/5/6.
The aim of the course is to present a musical for public performance and the first two productions, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Bugsy Malone’ have been hugely successful.
Each pupil is required to choose an area from Acting/Dancing/Chorus/Production Team or Media and help in creating the final production.
Extra-Curricular Activities:
L.A.M.D.A Exams (London Academy of Music and Drama)
Verse speaking exams – These exams encourage pupils to attain a good standard of speech, as well as developing self confidence, imaginative and expressive skills.
Acting/Improvisation exams – Pupils work on the techniques necessary for performance, working on confidence building and communication skills alongside character development, creativity and awareness.
Non Exam -
Classes in confidence building and public speaking are also available.
School Productions
At present the Drama department puts on three productions a year.
From J4 pupils can opt to be involved in the Christmas production. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and work with people from different year groups as well as learning new skills through the rehearsal period.
2006 saw a very exciting production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’
2007 to be announced! Rehearsals commence in September and take place every Wednesday night after school until the production in December.
The Expressive Arts musical takes place in April/May and involves S3/4/5/6. Rehearsals take place periods 9 & 10 on a Friday afternoon from September.
Senior play – More suited to the senior actor. Rehearsals take place on a Wednesday night after school from January with a production in June.
Perth Festival
Each year some of our pupils enter the Perthshire (competition) Festival where they have been successful gaining many certificates, awards and places.
Beaconhurst Festival 2007
This year we are hosting our own poetry festival for junior 1 – senior 3!
Theatre Trips
Over the school year the Drama department organises a wide variety of Theatre trips. These trips are optional and operate on a first come, first served basis.
Recent trips have included ‘Le Grande Cirque’, ‘ Charley’s Aunt’, ‘The Unexpected Guest’, ‘Mack and Mabel’ and ‘42nd Street’.
Watch the school calendar for forthcoming outings!
