We spoke to a few of our graduating Grade 12 IBDP Theatre students from the Class of 2025 to hear their viewpoints on IBDP Theatre in relation to UWC's mission, their experiences and their future. 

Click here to watch the individual interview clips or watch the full-length video on your left to hear what these seven wonderful students have to say! 

On February 19th, solo performances were held in the Drama studios at UWCSEA East campus to mark the final stage of the IBDP Grade 12 Theatre exams. 19 HL students conceptualised, designed, directed, and performed their own unique theatre pieces, each inspired by their chosen practitioner. The department is incredibly proud of their achievements and the learning they have gained throughout the process.

The UWCSEA High School Programme has enabled new opportunities for impactful learning over the past 18 months. On 12th December, the Grade 10 Drama students had the chance to present their research, practical exploration and teaching of a chosen tradition of either Indonesian Topeng or Wayang Kulit to their parents. The learning, sharing and reflections in the wonderful world of Bali on the 5th floor was simply magical. Thank you to the parents for attending and making it a beautiful experience for us all.

In the week of 18th November, our Grade 12 IBDP Theatre students performed their Collaborative Projects. The IBDP Theatre Collaborative Project task requires students to devise an original theatre performance. Through the exploration of diverse techniques and styles from a range of different devising companies, the students work collaboratively from a starting point to experiment, create, refine and present a 7-10 minutes performance piece. 

The performances were a testament to the hard work and commitment of the G12 Theatre students resulting in challenging and thought provoking pieces exploring a range of their ideas. The Drama Dept is proud, as always, of our Theatre students.

Click here for more Grade 12 details!

In November, our Grade 10 Drama students have collaborated in groups to perform in short performances based on short extracts from different scripts given to them. The students have worked creatively to embody varied characters, work as an ensemble, and to use a combination of dramatic elements and devices to convey the message and meanings from the stories. 

Check out some photos from the Scripted Performances by the Grade 10 students this year! --> 

Click here for more Grade 10 details!

The UWCSEA Programme has enabled new opportunities for powerful learning and the Grade 9 Drama students had the chance to learn and explore the tradition of Indonesian Topeng in class with our Artist-in-Residence Lian Sutton in September. 

The students had an interesting experience donning the Topeng masks and embodying the characteristics of the mask through their instinctual movements, sounds, and interactions with other masked characters. The learning, sharing and reflections in the wonderful world of masks on the 5th floor was simply magical. 

In the month of September, our High School and Middle School students recently had the opportunity to participate in an artist-in-residence workshop with Alys Hill, the driving force behind Liminal Physical Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

During the workshop, students explored energy and control through the practical application of Suzuki's acting techniques. Alys, a teaching artist specializing in physical theatre, has trained extensively in The Suzuki Method of Actor Training, The Viewpoints, and Butoh dance theatre worldwide. Liminal Physical Theatre, under her leadership, is known for creating and performing original, innovative theatre works both in New Zealand and internationally, while also offering expert training in various physical theatre methods.

UWCSEA East Drama Department has been very excited  to welcome back Artist-in-Residence Red Leap Theatre Company from New Zealand. We are so proud of our partnership established back in 2016 and value the expertise that they bring to the students' work and understanding of theatre making.

Red Leap is a Theatre company that is bold, visual and ignites the imagination. Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, Red Leap crosses the forms of physical theatre, imagery and storytelling and believe in playful discovery, the power of the imagination, and building a strong ensemble of performers. 

Students in Grades 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11 and 12 engaged with Red Leap face to face all week . They explored devising approaches, structures, exercises and theatrical styles which enables them to keep filling their drama toolbox for future use!

UWCSEA East Drama Department hosted local actor and movement coordinator Lian Sutton to work with Grade 8 Middle school Drama students this week as our Artist-in-Residence in Term 3.

Lian conducted a workshop on Silat Tua - a traditional Malay martial art that utilises images from nature, animals, and archetypes to inspire and explore combative movements. Combining storytelling, reflexive action, and creative individuality, practitioners gain confidence and ownership over their own freestyle tari (dance).

Our students were excited and enthusiastic to transfer their drama knowledge of movement, action and reaction to the session. This opportunity is aligned with the College’s aspiration to bring those from different cultures together to build intercultural understanding.

In April and May, the Grade 9 and FIB Drama students had the chance to learn from Alys Hill, dance and specialist Performing Arts Teacher all the way from New Zealand. Alys taught them physical theatre techniques and the exercises allowed the students to understand how embodiment and movements can effectively convey a story. 

Using the stimulus of balance, confessions and memories, our three Grade 10 IGCSE Drama classes have worked to create meaningful and impactful work responding to these key ideas. The students have worked collaboratively to produce nine original and collaborative works that demonstrate sophisticated use of dramatic elements and devices. This is the final piece of performed coursework for these Grade 10 students, and their experiences throughout the course have culminated in the challenging and thought provoking works they have created for the stage.

Check out some photos from the Devised Performances by the Grade 10 students this year! --> 

Click here for more Grade 10 details!

After the successful run of our Student Theatre Festival last November, we met up with all of our student directors and a few of our student actors to ask them about their experiences. 

From their reasons for choosing to participate in the theatre productions to their major takeaways, find out about how the student-led performances and also Drama as a subject have positively transformed them! 

Don't miss their full interviews that are exclusively on this website! 

Click here to view them all and find out more information!