Drama At Ranby House

Drama is one of the three Performing Arts which have been undertaken in our purpose-built Performing Arts Centre since 2001.

All pupils have access to this facility, both for class lessons and as part of theatrical activity rehearsals.

Pupils in the Pre-Prep attend with their class teachers and prepare a spoken and musical entertainment for parents and friends at the end of the Christmas term.

Classes in Years 3 – 6 have one lesson per week with the Head of Drama in which they study personal and collective skills in voice production, movement, stagecraft and various elements of theatre presentation. They will present work for others in the same class, prepare Chapel presentations, link with work in other subjects such as English and History, and at some point in each year prepare a presentation for a more general audience.

Pupils in Years 7 & 8 have access to the facility through their work in the English department, continuing to practise the above skills as well as debating and public speaking.

Pupils in Year 8 present a traditional “Mummers” play each year and raise money for charity.

Major theatrical productions are presented each term. Currently the end of the Autumn term sees Year 6 on stage, Year 7 just before Easter, and Year 8 complete their Ranby career with their production at the end of the Summer term.  Recent examples in Year 8 include “Henry the Tudor Dude”, “Bugsy Malone”, “1066 and All That” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

Drama is a major element of the “unseen curriculum” as well as the formal timetable, and this combination helps to develop the confident young people who leave us at the end of Year 8.