Drama at RPA
"I think drama has to push things to extremes so that we can understand what we are doing in our society."
Edward Bond
Drama at Richmond Park Academy
The Creative Arts faculty at RPA is designed to encourage creativity, develop problem solving abilities and an appreciation of the creative journey. Students will encounter a diverse range of practitioners within the industry showcasing various career paths.
Our aim is to inspire, enrich, and nurture each pupil to have the confidence to communicate; physically, audibly and visually through the use of a wide range of materials. We strive for students to fulfil their potential through increasingly individual and creative expression, prizing the journey as much as the destination.
The faculty is an active and vibrant part of the school community, both within and outside the curriculum, allowing students the freedom to explore their creative identity.
Who's who in the team
Mr Walker - Subject Lead
Ms Humphrey - Teacher of Performing Arts
At Richmond Park Academy, we believe that drama is a challenging and rewarding academic subject. Our mission in the Drama Department is to develop independent, creative thinkers who can challenge themselves to problem solve through thought, imagination and an appreciation of the power of words used well. We want our students to have a grounding in theatre and performance styles learned from Year 7 and embedded throughout KS3. Students will develop an awareness of an audience and begin to contemplate their intentions towards them. Students will study the purpose of drama and by the end of the KS will have begun to consider the roles of performers, designers and directors. The curriculum is aimed at providing an opportunity for students to develop their creativity and engender a love of the subject and the wider world of stage and screen.
We aim to:
encourage our students to think and behave creatively
enable them to examine issues and emotions from perspectives other than their own
help students develop practical skills
foster an appreciation and understanding of drama as an art form
encourage critical, reflective thinking at every level
assist in developing confident, co-operative and self-disciplined young people
Drama is taught as a subject in its own right. From the very beginning of Year 7, we train our students to work effectively and cooperatively in groups; to work towards original, imaginative performances and to evaluate, fairly and critically, their own work and that of others. At every level, students explore text, improvisation and live theatre from the perspectives of actor, director, designer and critic.
Year 7
Introduction to drama, Scriptwork - The Demon Headmaster, Physical Theatre
Year 8
Scriptwork - Sparkleshark, Commedia d’ell arte, Theatre in Education
Year 9
Scriptwork - DNA. Theatre Practitioners, Devising
Year 10 BTEC
Introduction to drama, Component One - A Performers’ Life, Component Two - Developing Skills for Performance
Year 10 GCSE
Introduction to drama, Component One - Devised Performance, Component Three - The Crucible
Year 11 BTEC
Component Three - Group performance project
Year 11 GCSE
Component Two - Performing from text, Component Three - The Crucible
Year 12
A Performer’s Life for me, Developing skills for performance
Year 13
Group Devised performance, Optional 4th Unit (Cohort depending)
Who to contact
Mr Walker - Head of Drama - ewalker@richmondparkacademy.org
Ms Humphrey - shumphrey@richmondparkacademy.org
Future Careers
Actor
Director
Producer
Playwright/ Scriptwriter
Costume designer/maker
Set designer
Choreographer
Lighting/Sound technician
Musical Director
Costume designer
Hair and Makeup artist
Stage Manager
Tour manager
Talent Agent
Stunt and stage combat expert
Marketing manager
Box office manager
Theatre manager