Drama
Drama at Newton Prep is an important part of the school curriculum and life of the school. It allows children to explore their creativity through improvisation, group and independent work, playscripts and productions. Drama exposes the children to a variety of theatrical genres whilst encouraging them to assert themselves confidently and explore their imaginations using a range of different stimuli.
At Newton Prep, every child throughout Prep School (Years 3 – 8) is taught drama as part of the educational curriculum. This introduces the older children to working with each other in group based activities and gives them an enjoyable freedom to explore their individual creativity.
Drama is taught in a beautiful and spacious theatre at Newton Prep. It is a fully equipped auditorium with a technical and sound room, dressing rooms and storage facilities, a stage and an open floor space.
Children of all ages are frequently set tasks, which they have to perform in front of others. Pupils are expected to perform their work in lesson time as well as in productions. We believe drama to be a vital part of school life and the curriculum at Newton Prep and very important for the personal development of the child. Therefore, many theatrical and dramatic skills are taught and productions put in place. Trips are organised to support an area of study where possible. Drama clubs are run usually every term and additional rehearsals called during the run up to a production. Drama assemblies are performed each term, throughout the school, in which children can show their work.
In Years 3 to 7, there is a timetabled drama lesson once a week. Each Year group is also involved in an annual production. In Year 8 as part of the post common entrance programme, children are taken off timetable for a week to rehearse and create props, backdrops and lighting sequences for their own play. Drama is a vibrant and central part of education at Newton Prep.
The content of the lessons allows the children to explore their creativity and imaginations through improvisations and role-play. Characters will be formed and studied, texts read and performed, group, pair and individual work undertaken. Children will be expected to learn lines and adopt and sustain a role. In Year 4, drama is addressed in the same way exposing children to a variety of theatrical skills and culminating in a production. Currently, in Year 5, children are learning the skills of physical theatre and exploring text for performance.
