The Perse School Cambridge

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Aim

Experience of theatre and the skills developed through improvised and scripted performance, help to enrich our pupils’ creativity and confidence. Our aim is that all our children have regular opportunities to take part in rewarding and challenging productions, whilst developing their public speaking and presentation skills. Our pupils explore the diverse aspects of performance and develop self-confidence and team building skills integral for success in future life.

Approach

Drama is taught to all year groups for one lesson a week and is linked directly to the English curriculum, using the objectives from the National Literacy Framework. The skills developed in Drama permeate many areas of school life and beyond. The acquisition of these skills is evident in the children’s ability to perform in front of an audience and explore issues and ideas in character.  Through their Drama lessons many children develop their overall self-confidence and ability to work as a team.

The Drama curriculum is separated into three strands, drama skills, script work and improvisation and in each year all these key aspects are developed through termly projects.

What will my child study?

Year 3

Term 1 -Creating and Performing a Play

After an introduction to the basics of drama, the children rehearse and perform a scripted play to an invited audience.

Term 2 – Exploring Friendship

An improvisation project which looks at friendship scenarios, exploring the social and moral solutions to problems through drama.

Term 3 – Puppetry

Children explore the skill of puppetry, including: hand puppets, finger puppets and shadow puppets.

Year 4

Term 1 – Developing Script Work

Children explore the practicalities of putting on a scripted performance, leading to a musical theatre performance to an invited audience.

Term 2 – The Dragon Problem

An improvisation project which focuses on creating several roles whilst exploring environmental and ethical dilemmas.

Term 3 – Voice and the Actor

A unit of work focusing the skill of effective voice use, including projection, articulation and vocal health.

Year 5

Term 1 – Darkwood Manor

Children use their improvisation skills to maintain a role over a series of lessons, developing their own storytelling.

Term 2 – Mask

A unit of work exploring the techniques needed for effective mask performance.

Term 3 – Directing a Script

The opportunity for children to develop directing skills by rehearsing and performing a short piece of script independently.

Year 6

Terms 1 and 2 – End of School Production

The script work and drama skills developed over the last three years culminate in a major school production, rehearsed over two terms, and performed to an invited audience.

Term 3 – Creative Drama Project

Children develop their own improvised plays, which they then perform to other children in the school.