Performing Arts Scholarships and Awards
The Performing Arts are important in the lives of the girls at Downe House. There is enormous enthusiasm for the subject and excellent standards are achieved at all levels.
Our Performing Arts Scholars’ programme recognises exceptional ability in both practical and written work, and offers Award Holders the opportunity to develop their talents.
Value of Performing Arts Awards
The position of a Performing Arts Award Holder is an honour and a privilege, allowing the recipient to play a prominent role in the life of the Department and to take on leadership opportunities. Award Holders benefit from regular mentoring and have access to our enriched Scholars’ Programme. This offers super-curricular opportunities such as theatre visits, workshops and masterclasses to stretch and challenge the Scholars, and helps them to develop performance skills and wider awareness of the performing arts.
Eligibility and Procedures
Performing Arts Scholarships are awarded to external candidates at 13+ and 16+ and to internal candidates at 12+ and 14+.
Awards are made on the results of an audition, an interview with the Director of Performing Arts and the Headmistress, plus a written paper. For 13+ and 16+ external candidates this takes place in May of the year prior to entry. For 12+, 14+ and 16+ internal candidates, selection is made during September of the year of entry.
Candidates will need to prepare a contemporary monologue to perform at their audition. They will be redirected in their performance in order to study their response to creative direction. The written paper lasts 40 minutes and is based on the candidate’s experience of live theatre.
There is no examination fee, but girls who are not already entered for the School will be required to register before sitting for an Award and it is
likely they will already be holding a conditional or unconditional place.
Duties of a Performing Arts Holder
A Performing Arts Scholar is required to:
• Be a model student in lessons and when participating in related events
• Be involved in extra-curricular productions and events
• Be prepared to perform, make presentations or speeches at the discretion of the Director of Performing Arts
• Write articles for the School magazine
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in Performing Arts outside Downe House
• Be a role model to others through her commitment to the Performing Arts Department
In addition, Performing Arts Award Holders will be required to take Drama at GCSE. In the Sixth Form, Performing Arts Award Holders would usually study Drama at A Level, as well as making a significant contribution to the extracurricular Performing Arts programme.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the eligibility and experience criteria?
Candidates applying for a Performing Arts Award will have excellent performing ability and will show a great deal of promise in their acting. It is likely that they will have performing experience, either in school productions, Trinity Guildhall/LAMDA examinations or within Drama lessons. Many candidates will have experience in a combination of these areas, however, what we are really looking for is exceptional talent and an aptitude for drama that can be nurtured and developed through our Scholars’ Programme. In addition to this, candidates will have an avid interest in Performing Arts both as a subject and through following their own independent interests.
What is to be expected during the selection process?
The selection process comprises a solo monologue audition performance, a written examination, an interview with the Director of Performing Arts Department, and an interview with the Headmistress. An individual schedule for the day is drawn up for each candidate and they will be able to spend some time speaking with the other girls in the group in between tasks. We endeavour to make the day relaxed yet challenging for the candidates. The day is designed to give the girls a broad range of opportunities to shine and to demonstrate their skill through a variety of different tasks. It is important that girls are able to show their own individual ability, but also that they demonstrate their ability to collaborate and work creatively with others.
What kind of monologue is suitable for the audition?
The monologue can be historical or contemporary, from theatre, film or TV. When selecting monologues, candidates should consider the performance opportunities that they offer. Candidates should choose a character that they feel connected with and that they feel able to portray convincingly. A monologue should offer opportunities for focused and interesting use of staging, suited to the character and the content of the piece. It should also offer some emotional development or emotional journey for the character. This might be only a small development, but it is important to show some variety – a monologue which stays the same from beginning to end is unlikely to showcase the girl’s ability. Candidates should also consider what effect their interpretation of the piece will have on their audience and have a clear understanding of the emotional development and context of the monologue.
What is to be expected in the written examination?
The written examination offers candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to write about drama and theatre. They will be asked to write about a live theatre performance that they have seen and should be prepared to discuss specific moments from their chosen piece and write about them in detail. We are not looking for a ‘perfect’ answer at this stage, but rather for the ability to analyse and evaluate the impact and effect of theatre as well as to describe it in detail.
Candidates should have a clear understanding of why they have chosen to write about this piece of theatre and why it was effective. They should include information about the staging choices, the actors’ use of vocal and physical skills, lighting, set, use of props or costume, what effect these created and why. Candidates should prepare for this paper by revising key drama terminology and practising putting it into writing.
What does the interview entail?
The Performing Arts Scholarship interview offers girls the opportunity to talk about their wider understanding of drama and their interest in theatre. Questions are designed to cover a range of topics and focus on a candidate’s critical appreciation of drama. It is helpful to practise discussing the deeper aspects of theatre-making in order to prepare for this interview and the targeted use of key theatre terminology would also be beneficial. Candidates should ideally be able to explain why they love drama and be able to give specific examples of why they find particular plays, styles of theatre or actors inspiring.
What standard is expected?
Candidates should be as prepared as possible for the Scholarship selection process. A key part of this is ensuring that lines are learnt thoroughly for the monologues so that they are able to perform confidently and take creative direction on their pieces. The better candidates know their lines, the better they will be able to focus on the acting and creative interpretation. We do not expect flawless performances, but we are looking for a high level of commitment to performing work and exceptional potential as a dynamic performer. From 14+ onwards, we are hoping to see candidates taking a sense of ownership over their work and creating pieces that are artistically interesting and challenging.
What support and opportunities are offered to Performing Arts Scholars?
We offer a specialised programme of events and mentorship to support each of our Performing Arts Scholars in developing her own unique skills and talents. Each Scholar is assigned a Mentor from the department and will meet individually with her Mentor to discuss goals, aims and aspirations. We have a number of specialist staff members who are able to nurture girls’ talents and interests in diverse areas of the dramatic arts and the Mentor is able to guide the Scholar in that
journey and help to make links between their experience of drama at Downe and in the world beyond. In addition to trips and workshops, Performing Arts Scholars will take part in performance projects to share their work with the wider community, giving them the experience of performing to diverse audiences and offering older girls the opportunity of directing. We aim to nurture each individual Scholar and to facilitate the development of her talent and ability in the Performing Arts.
Are Scholarships reassessed?
Performing Arts Scholarships and Exhibitions are valid in the first instance up to the end of GCSEs, providing the Award Holder maintains a suitable standard of endeavour and conduct and fulfils the duties required. Awards are reassessed at this stage to ensure Performing Arts still play a central part in the life of an Award Holder and also to allow other talented performers to be given awards for entry to the Sixth Form.
Decisions about Scholarships and Exhibitions
The final decision about all matters relating to Scholarships and Exhibitions lies with the Headmistress.
How to apply
If your daughter is registered and has received a conditional offer to join Downe House, the Admissions team will automatically write to you in November/December of the year prior to entry with details of how to apply for Awards.
Further details regarding Performing Arts Scholarships are available from the Director of Performing Arts, Mr Rob Castell (castellr@ downehouse.net). For general enquires about Scholarships please contact Miss Angela Nutt, Registrar on nutta@downehouse.net or 01635 204701. Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 200286 www.downehouse.net
