Drama

 

At the heart of learning how to act is learning how to empathise. This subtle, difficult, life-changing skill has a range of applications that go beyond the theatre -- teaching students to better understand the lives of different individuals and cultures, giving them a broader understanding of the challenges faced by others, as well as building their confidence through a combination of performances and exercises that will bring even the quietest student out of their shell.

BSB is committed to providing students with excellent facilities to practice, rehearse, and stage productions. The purpose built 240 seat Brel Theatre is complemented by the 100 seat Horta studio. The School boasts excellent technical equipment and a costume department that's supported by our Textiles students.

Organised trips to the theatre are common, with students frequently travelling to a host of European countries to sample the finest in cultural excellence, from the classics to contemporary theatre and dance.

Curriculum

The drama curriculum in Years 7 to 9 aims to explore some of the fundamentals of stage craft both on and behind the stage as well putting the theatrical practices in their relevant historical context. Each student performs in front of their class on a regular basis.

The course for Years 10 and 11 is extremely active and places the emphasis on learning by doing. Through a mixture of work students learn the disciplines that go into creating what we finally see on stage. By the end of the course the students will have created several original pieces of drama; learnt how to use and design technical elements and developed an understanding of the different styles and forms of theatre.

The best way to learn about theatre is to see and do it. Trips are organised to see work in the UK and throughout Europe. (The costs of which are additional to the school fees.) Skilled practitioners are invited into the school to teach the students different techniques at no extra cost and the students will create up to a maximum of four separate pieces of public work.

Years 12 and 13 are able to study drama at A Level, or as part of their IB Diploma. The A Level course is a mixture of desk-bound and practical study, enabling students to critically appraise, experience, and apply their knowledge of theatre from farce to tragedy to their own work. Students partake in workshops, an ISTA or TAPS festival, and travel across Europe to experience live theatre.

The IB course involves a strong practical element and involves students in all aspects of the theatre, from studying texts to acting, directing, and designing. The course takes a multicultural approach, integrating the texts and traditions of a wide number of countries and encouraging students to pursue further study in particular aspects of the theatre that interest them.