Drama at Ashford School goes beyond a simple skit and learning a few lines. We aim to instil a love and passion for the subject by immersing our students in opportunities to excel in all aspects of the subject, be it acting and singing, or make-up, lighting and special effects.
Drama outside of the classroom:
Whether studying Drama as a chosen subject or just showing a love for acting, theatre-making or backstage work, all students have extensive opportunities to develop their skills and interests in the dramatic arena through the variety of co-curricular activities on offer.
The School produces and performs several productions annually, which include a Junior production for Years 7 & 8, a Senior production for Years 9-13, and a number of Studio theatre productions from exam classes and scholars. Produced and directed by the Drama Department, the productions involve our students from start to finish, including aspects such as costume design and creation, choreography, lighting, and props. Here, the students can use all they have learnt in class, but also all of the skills they have developed during the co-curricular activities, such as the Junior Drama Club and the AshTech, our Technical Theatre Club.
High achievers have the opportunity to take part in producing and directing their own showcases, and our A Level students provide mentorship for aspiring dramatists at our annual primary school workshops. Students also regularly participate in festivals and competitions, with recent success obtained at the Kent and Hastings Festivals. A number of our students have also recently auditioned with the National Theatre.
The School welcomes a number of professional practitioners throughout the year, including the Frantic Assembly Physical Theatre Company and the Stanislavski Experience. Our Drama students enjoy several theatre trips throughout the year too, with recent trips to the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, and London’s West End. This past year we have taken pupils to see A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, Hex and The Crucible at the NT, Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Orchard Theatre, and Les Misérables at the Marlowe Theatre. Pupils also have the opportunity to consider Drama and Theatre beyond the school, and we actively seek out open days for pupils to attend for degree courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, Stage Management, Technical Design for Stage and Lighting Design and Operation. These experiences can be hugely aspirational for pupils who are considering a career in the Production or Entertainment industries.
Speech and Drama:
Ashford School employs a full-time Speech and Drama teacher and trains a number of Prep and Senior students each year to participate in the LAMDA exams.
We currently have 49 students across the Prep and Senior school taking LAMDA Acting, Verse and Prose and Public Speaking Exams.
- Two Year 5 and 6 students at the Prep School are studying Grade 5 Verse and Prose, after having received Distinction at Grade 4. Grade 5 is normally undertaken in Year 9!
- Three Year 11, 12 and 13 Senior students are studying for their Grade 8 Gold Acting Exam after all having received Distinction in the previous ones.
- One Year 13 student has recently taken her Grade 8 Gold Acting and was awarded a Distinction
- Two senior students are currently studying for their Grade 8 Gold Verse and Prose LAMDA Exam
- One senior student is currently studying for his Grade 8 Gold Public Speaking LAMDA Exam