DramaFollowing its designation as a Specialist College for the Performing Arts, The McAuley Catholic High School aims to encourage and enable each student to stretch their artistic, intellectual, physical and technological abilities to their fullest point by providing a rich and varied Drama curriculumwithin a creative and stimulating environment. The Drama Department was established in 2002.
A full programme of productions gives pupils a vocational context for practising their performing arts and drama skills. Recent productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, My Fair Lady, Our Day Out, West Side Story, Wacky Soap, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
As part of the school’s Performing Arts Specialist College status, the department has well-established links in the community including with business partners, feeder schools and other secondary schools.
As part of the school’s Performing Arts Specialist College status, the department has well-established links in the community including with business partners, feeder schools and other secondary schools.
Extra Curricular Drama and Drama Enrichment
There are many opportunities for pupils to participate in a wide range of extra curricular and enrichment activities provided by the Drama department, with OFSTED (March 2006) commenting that the impact of Performing Arts status contributes strongly to the enrichment of the curriculum.
A flourishing weekly Drama club is regularly attended by over 70 pupils from Year 7 to Year 11. A level Drama students help to run this alongside Drama staff.
The Drama department runs regular evening and weekend theatre visits, averaging 10 per year to local and national theatres, including London and the West End. Recent trips have included Cinderella at Grimsby (Drama Club), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (London), Little Shop of Horrors (London), The Merchant of Venice (The Globe) and The History Boys (Leeds).
There are strong links between the Drama department and the Performing Arts industry, including working closely with actors and companies who regularly offer master classes to our pupils. These links include working with ex-pupils who have gone on to study Drama or Performing Arts disciplines at university and top establishments such as Drama Centre London, Northern Ballet School, ArtsEd and Italia Conti. There is also a tradition of supporting new and established local theatre companies, often involving ex-pupils.
Thriving examination courses generate regular public and peer performances, including whole school and community events which are organised and run by our Applied A level and BTEC Production students. We regularly organise activities which allow vertical grouping of students such as the Y13 Performing Arts students devising Theatre in Education pieces and workshops aimed at Key Stage 2, 3 or 4 pupils, or visiting theatre companies performing to all Drama students from Year 10 to Year 13. There are regular rehearsal opportunities at lunchtimes, after school, at weekends and during some holidays, supervised by Drama staff, when pupils can rehearse for practical examinations or productions.
There are many opportunities for pupils to participate in a wide range of extra curricular and enrichment activities provided by the Drama department, with OFSTED (March 2006) commenting that the impact of Performing Arts status contributes strongly to the enrichment of the curriculum.
A flourishing weekly Drama club is regularly attended by over 70 pupils from Year 7 to Year 11. A level Drama students help to run this alongside Drama staff.
The Drama department runs regular evening and weekend theatre visits, averaging 10 per year to local and national theatres, including London and the West End. Recent trips have included Cinderella at Grimsby (Drama Club), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (London), Little Shop of Horrors (London), The Merchant of Venice (The Globe) and The History Boys (Leeds).
There are strong links between the Drama department and the Performing Arts industry, including working closely with actors and companies who regularly offer master classes to our pupils. These links include working with ex-pupils who have gone on to study Drama or Performing Arts disciplines at university and top establishments such as Drama Centre London, Northern Ballet School, ArtsEd and Italia Conti. There is also a tradition of supporting new and established local theatre companies, often involving ex-pupils.
Thriving examination courses generate regular public and peer performances, including whole school and community events which are organised and run by our Applied A level and BTEC Production students. We regularly organise activities which allow vertical grouping of students such as the Y13 Performing Arts students devising Theatre in Education pieces and workshops aimed at Key Stage 2, 3 or 4 pupils, or visiting theatre companies performing to all Drama students from Year 10 to Year 13. There are regular rehearsal opportunities at lunchtimes, after school, at weekends and during some holidays, supervised by Drama staff, when pupils can rehearse for practical examinations or productions.
Drama Department Staff
Mrs K E Matheson: Curriculum Leader Drama and Assistant Director of Performing Arts
Miss M Sinclair: 2nd in Department
Mr G Matheson: Technical Theatre and Drama teacher
Miss R Beegan: Drama and Technical Theatre teacher
Miss M Shay: Drama Technician and KS3 Drama teacher
Mrs K E Matheson: Curriculum Leader Drama and Assistant Director of Performing Arts
Miss M Sinclair: 2nd in Department
Mr G Matheson: Technical Theatre and Drama teacher
Miss R Beegan: Drama and Technical Theatre teacher
Miss M Shay: Drama Technician and KS3 Drama teacher
