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Lucy Robinson, Director of Drama Drama in the classroom continues to thrive, with more students than ever electing to continue their study of the subject when it becomes an option. For J-bugs, First and Second Year, they study a new topic every half term, with student favourites including puppetry, Lord of the Flies and Antigone. For these students, exploration of Drama is almost entirely practical, with elements of script work developing their understanding of characterisation, and devising opportunities instilling in them traits and insights that prove invaluable at exam level. At GCSE and A Level, students are assessed in practical performances of classic and contemporary texts as well as the creation and performance of original pieces of theatre inspired by a choice of stimuli. We continue to be astounded by the powerful work students create, as they often draw on their acute interest in current affairs to imbue their plays with political and social relevance. At A Level too, students create their own original plays in the style of a practitioner, recently choosing the methodologies of Complicité, Punchdrunk and Paper Birds to inspire their work.
Tamsin Reeve, LAMDA Teacher In the past five years, the number of Trinity students pursuing LAMDA qualifications has grown from 5 to more than 30. Students who are keen to develop their performance skills and public-speaking skills are excelling with over 90% achieving distinctions up to Grade 8. Those who have pursued LAMDA qualifications have gone on to study a diverse range of subjects at university including Music, Engineering, Art, English, and Architecture. The appeal of the courses is their wide-ranging application to everyday situations, and while the classes are still taught on a predominantly one-to-one basis, students are often supportive when they realise a form member is also taking classes, or when a peer has received an outstanding grade, or when occasional students have been invited to perform at the annual Drama Scholars Showcase. There are now similar numbers pursuing communications qualifications and performance qualifications, and LAMDA students seem to have many strings to their bows. Exams are happening throughout the year in Central London, and while many LAMDA students are often involved both onstage and backstage in school productions, it would be wonderful to see more becoming involved with the Mitre Players. It was lovely to be performing alongside a couple of LAMDA students in the recent Mitre Review – some in their first and second Mitre productions, whilst my own involvement stretches back to 2005. The society is not only open to the current and old students, but to their families too.