Drama at St Martin's Ampleforth
Drama is an growing discipline at St. Martin's Ampleforth both within the curriculum as a timetabled subject and as an activity.
A school play is performed once a year by Year 8. The rehearsals for this take place in the post-Common Entrance weeks providing a structured activity that is a final team showcase for the leavers. The play alternates each year between being a musical and a straight play.
Years 6, 7 and 8 have a double lesson in Drama every two weeks to learn dramatic technique, improve confidence on stage and to improve their own acting ability.
Years 3, 4 and 5 have a double drama lesson per week where they start their training in drama techniques and then prepare a full length play to perform at the beginning of the Summer term.
The Pre-Prep take their first steps onto stage with the annual Nativity performance. This is always a musical and may even involve some dance. The pre-prep children then take two of the songs from the Nativity play to perform in the intimidating surroundings of the Ampleforth Abbey Church, in front of all the parents at our annual Carol Service. This is one of the highlights of the service!
The Prep school children may choose to do Drama on one of their activity afternoons. This programme allows them to experiment with a variety of drama scripts and exercises as well as to prepare for performances to parents. Pupils are encouraged to develop confidence in speaking and performance skills and the activity provides opportunities for personal and artistic development through speech and drama.