The outstanding Drama and Theatre Department at KGS combines consistently high examination results and an enviable, inclusive co-curricular programme.
Located in The Michael Frayn Theatre, opportunities include full-scale productions, studio performances, clubs, theatre trips, LAMDA, revues and competitions. Students specialise in acting, technical theatre and design, and alongside the development of their skills, grow to be critical and engaged theatre producers and consumers.
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
Albert Einstein
Production standards are exceptionally high. We also have a fully equipped studio space, and flexible green room. The Michael Frayn Theatre is also an NTLive venue, where students can benefit from screenings of top West End theatre, opera and musicals.
FIRST AND SECOND YEAR
Students study theatrical genres, text, theatre history and devising performances. Using games, improvisation, rehearsed performances and evaluation, students learn to become confident theatre makers and performers.
THIRD YEAR
Students can opt to take Drama in the Third Year and follow an exciting and unique course that focuses on working as a theatre company. In the first term students practically explore the differing roles in the theatre and conclude with staging a short production.
The second term sees students introduced to contemporary theatre practice, looking at physical theatre and devising theatre. The Summer term is focused on theatre production, where groups explore live theatre and text in performance.
GCSE
We follow the AQA specification which allows students to specialise in either acting or technical theatre/design. The course combines practical and written exploration of texts, with live theatre, and devising original work for performance.
A LEVEL
We follow the EDEXCEL syllabus in Drama and Theatre, and students can opt to focus on acting or technical theatre/design. Results are consistently outstanding. A number of students go on to study Drama and Theatre at university. In recent years we have also been successful with students winning places at prestigious drama schools such as RADA, LAMDA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Guildhall, Drama Centre and The Guildford School of Acting.
DRAMA SCHOLARSHIPS (SIXTH FORM ONLY)
Scholarships are available to those who excel in acting, design or directing. An award is offered following a successful audition and interview. Acting scholars enjoy one-to-one sessions with our Actor-In-Residence. Group sessions are also run for the Sixth Form scholars.
CO-CURRICULAR
Open to the Fifth Year and above, the Senior Play has included productions of 13, Nell Gwynn, Romeo & Juliet, Earthquakes in London, Blue Stockings and Anna Karenina. For Third and Fourth Year students, the Middle School Play productions have included Great Britain, Love and Information, Mad Forest, Jane Eyre and School for Scandal. Younger actors gain experience playing lead roles, in preparation for Sixth Form study and Drama Scholarship application.
The Junior Play is open to anyone in the First and Second Year and is always a lively and exciting event where many students gain their first experience of performing. Recent productions have included Peter Pan, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Oliver Twist and James and the Giant Peach.
