Drama Department
Drama lessons in years 6 to 9 allow students to develop their skills in performance as well as their self-confidence. Many students participate in our frequent productions in a variety of roles. In Year 9, we work in partnership with Durham City Council Health and Environment. Year 9 students write their own pantomime highlighting important health issues and take it on tour to primary schools. We have also started a primary outreach project, allowing Year 5 girls from other schools to benefit from our facilities and talents.
In Years 10 and 11, students have the opportunity to take a formal qualification in GCSE Drama. They put together a portfolio of written work as well as studying a wide range of disciplines such as lighting and makeup as well as set texts. The course culminates with a performance which the students put together unaided.
Film and theatre agents recognise the wealth of talent at DHS, regularly offering auditions. Recently, students have starred in BBC’s ‘Byker Grove’ and ‘Mary Poppins’ in the West End. Several students have also gone on to the National Youth Theatre and Drama school. We are the only school in the area to perform full scale shows regularly in a professional theatre, The Gala, Durham. In 2007, we opened our new Performing Arts Building, an invaluable practice area, as the dimensions of the Studio match those of the Gala Theatre.
Drama is not all about acting. Older students take responsibility for backstage, direction, lighting, choreography, ICT, costume etc.
Whilst the highlight of our year is the main school musical in the Gala Theatre, the new Studio has provided us with an excellent facility for performing more specialised theatre, such as a non-musical production and a 6th form production dealing with more mature issues. We are currently exploring drama through a season of plays written by modern female playwrights in order to inspire our girls.
We offer opportunities for debating and public speaking plus Lamda examinations in Speech and Drama. We now also offer dance, and 2009 will see the first performance of the DHS Dance Team.
We have frequent in-school workshops and theatre visits to local and London theatres.