Downe House
- web site: www.downehouse.co.uk
- telephone: +44 (0)1635 200286
This website is best viewed by CSS 2 compliant browsers, please wait a moment whilst the page graphics load. If you continue to see this message after a few seconds please contact us
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Drama is important in the lives of the girls at Downe House. There is enormous enthusiasm for this subject and excellent standards are achieved at all levels. Facilities are continually expanding, to enable the girls to gain an increasingly rich variety of experience and the opportunities to develop not only their own skills in performance, creativity and craftsmanship, but also their critical and appreciative faculties as members of an audience.
We are fortunate to be housed in the Performing Arts Centre (completed in September 2004). The girls have the opportunity to work in a professionally equipped modern theatre with a maximum audience capacity of 500 and two purpose-built drama studios - rehearsing, performing in and/or directing the frequent productions, performances, festivals and assessments. They are also able to learn, hands-on, the technical aspects of theatre such as sound and lighting, stage management, costume and stage design.
Drama forms part of the curriculum for the lower school, and is a very popular subject at GCSE, AS and A2 level. In addition girls may take private Speech and Drama lessons and are prepared for LAMDA and RADA examinations. We have students gaining places in the National Youth Theatre as well as progressing to study the subject at degree level, either at university or drama school.
We are proud of the strong history of old girls forging successful careers in the Performing Arts industries; whether they be on stage, in front of a camera, producing, writing, directing or in the many production roles behind the scenes. Former Downe House girls who currently star on the stage, radio and screen include Geraldine James, Flora Montgomery, Alice Hart Dyke, Marianne Oldham to name but a few.
On average two theatre visits are scheduled each term for those studying GCSE and AS/A2 Level courses. Students in all year groups are offered similar opportunities through weekend activities.
The Department also offers, on a regular basis, workshops and performances by visiting artists to complement studies. These are sometimes opened to other students apart from those already studying at GCSE and AS/A2 Level. We take part in the National Theatre Shell Connections Programme and The Shakespeare Schools Festival, both nationwide events.
We have formed a close link with the Drama Department at Radley College, an independent boys' school in Oxfordshire. Downe House girls have been guest performers in two of their school productions; we brainstorm planning ideas, undertake joint workshops and have plans for future production projects.
Throughout the school year the Department is responsible for and involved in the organisation of several major extra-curricular events. A typical year is outlined below.
Theatre trips average of 2 per year group
Sept Oct
House Drama Rehearsals
Globe study day for A2 students
Oct
House Drama Competition
Lower School Drama Club commences
Shakespeare Club commences
Nov
Sixth Form Play
Joint production with Radley College
Nov Dec
AS Unit One workshop performances/assessment
A2 Unit Four Devised Drama performances/assessment
GCSE L5 and U5 GCSE performances/assessment
Auditions for festivals, year plays and the annual school production/musical
Removes Christmas entertainment
Staff Entertainment/pantomime
Theatre trips average of one per year group
Jan Feb
Rehearsals for school production
GCSE Mock examinations
U6 Study Day in London
Lower School Charity Drama Event
Winter Shakespeare Production
Feb March
AS/A2 mock examinations
Shell Connections National Theatre Production
Shakespeare Schools Festival
AS Unit Two practical examination
A2 Unit Five practical examination
L5 GCSE performance task
GCSE visiting workshop
A2 Unit 6 revision day with visiting company
Speech and Drama Showcase Event
Theatre trips average of one trip per year group
April May
School production rehearsals
Music Weekend
A2 Greek Drama directing workshop/performances
U4/L5 production
U5 GCSE Drama practical examination
L5 GCSE performance/assessment
GCSE, AS, A2 Public Examinations
Lower School Drama Club end of year production
June - July
L4 Drama Project in France
L5 GCSE devised performance touring to local primary schools
AS Drama devising project with Radley
Drama Festival Week
School Production
Summer Shakespeare Outdoor Production
Mrs Michelle Scott Head of Drama
Miss Deborah Pomson Assistant Director of Director
Ms Anna Renton-Green Speech and Drama Coordinator
Ms Sharon Rogers Wardrobe Technician
Mr Joe Hilton Technical Support Coordinator
Miss Kelly-Anne Bain
Mrs Phyllida Holgate
Mrs Victoria Ryan
Mrs Gaelle Stark-Ordish
Michelle completed a Bachelor of Education (Drama and English), at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia (1993). She taught Drama and English at two independent schools in Australia before moving to the UK in 1997. She began teaching Drama part-time at Downe House in September 1997, and was appointed Head of Drama in 2000 and Director of Drama in 2007. Michelle has now enjoyed over ten years of teaching at Downe House and is also a visiting examiner for the AS/A2 Drama and Theatre Studies course for Edexcel.
Dee read English Literature at Cardiff University, graduating in 2001. She went on to study a Masters at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then continued her studies in theatre and teacher training by undertaking the Drama PGCE course at Central School of Speech and Drama. She started her teaching career at Downe House in 2005, and in 2007 was promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Drama. Dee is also a visiting examiner for the AS/A2 Drama and Theatre Studies course for Edexcel.
Kelly-Anne studied a double degree (Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Teaching) with a double major (Drama and English) at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She graduated in 2000 as part of the Golden Key Honours Society. She taught at Bethlehem College, New Zealand, before travelling abroad. Kelly joined us as a full-time member of the department in 2006.
After obtaining a degree in English from Bangor and a PGCE in English and Drama from Newcastle, Victoria began her teaching career as a Drama and English teacher in a comprehensive school. She then moved to Tudor Hall where she was i/c Drama and Play Production for four years. After a year at Westfield School for Girls in Newcastle she moved to Stowe where she taught drama for six years . Victoria is also a Lower Sixth Housemistress in Willis.
Anna obtained a BA (Hons) in Drama and Literature from VUW in New Zealand, and an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Birmingham University's Shakespeare Institute. She has been teaching Drama at Downe House for seven years, and is also an A-level visiting examiner for Edexcel. She has a particular interest in Shakespeare and Classical drama.
Phyllida completed her training at Webber Douglas and her acting career encompasses stage, television and radio. She has taught Speech and Drama at Downe House for more than 14 years, and is still actively involved as a professional performer, recording for radio and audio publications for Chivers Press, BBC Worldwide and ISIS.
Gaëlle studied Acting at ALRA in London and also took a BA (Hons) in Theology at King's College. She was a key member of the King's College Drama Society being part of their production receiving an award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005. She has also trained in dance and singing, and has appeared in professional shows. Gaëlle joined the staff at Downe House in 2007.
The Drama Department is also fortunate enough to have two highly skilled technicians to support the work of the girls and the extensive production programme; Mr Joe Hilton (technical) and Mrs Sharon Rogers (costume).
Every pupil at Downe House has the opportunity to engage in Drama in a number of contexts.
The Lower School (Removes, L4 and U4) have one timetabled Drama lesson per week.
Students may elect to study Drama and Theatre Studies at GCSE, AS and A2 levels.
We currently have 60 students taking the course at GCSE level and 37 studying the AS and A2 courses.
All students have the opportunity to enrol in private LAMDA Speech and Drama or RADA Shakespeare lessons. These lessons are taught by peripatetic staff and are run independently from the main curriculum.
The number of lessons per week and their organisation are outlined below
Removes
One timetabled lesson per week in their teaching groups
Lower Four
One timetabled lesson per week in their teaching groups
Upper Four
One timetabled lesson per week in their teaching groups
Lower and Upper Fifth- GCSE Drama (AQAl)
Four timetabled lessons per week (2x2)
• maximum of 15 students per teaching group
Lower Sixth AS Drama and Theatre Studies (Edexcel)
Eight timetabled lessons per week (4x2)
• maximum of 9 students per teaching group
Upper Sixth A2 Drama and Theatre Studies (Edexcel)
Eight timetabled lessons per week (4x2)
• maximum of 6 students per teaching group
Because of our location we are able to take the girls on a wide cross-section of theatre trips as part of their studies. We frequently visit theatres in London, Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Reading, Basingstoke, Winchester and Newbury amongst other locations.
The competition is open to all students in Year 12 and essay titles are set by Corpus Christi. Poppy will be attending the Prize Giving on 3 July.
Annie entered her design for her AS Level Product Design Resistant Materials coursework and has been selected as one of the 20 finalists. She will take her project and portfolio to the Finals, which will be held at Dulwich College in London on 20 June 2008.
Dan Cruikshank - 'Adventures in Architecture'
Dan is a leading expert on architecture and historic buildings and a regular presenter on the BBC. He is best known for his popular series Britain's Best Buildings and Around The World in 80 Treasures; and for his appearances in Under Fire and What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Performances at 11am and 6pm at 'The Dell', the outdoor performance space in the RSC Centenary Gardens, bordered by the river and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Bring a picnic, all welcome!
2nd - 4th May in the Performing Arts Centre
Times' writer Mary Ann Sieghart gives Summer Term Medley Lecture
Newbury's MP, Richard Benyon, visited Downe House on 25th April speak to thePolitics Society about his work in the House of Commons and the constituency.
Congratulations to Emma Powell (U5) who was selected for NYT's highly acclaimed acting course.
On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, Downe House hosted a charity fashion show. The events were organised by Rosie Fortescue, Georgiana Haig and Celia Thursfield, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, raising a total of just over £5,500.
Gillian Clarke, renowned poet, who has written poetry and prose for children and adults, visited Downe House on Sunday, 16 March. Her poetry reading began with her first publsihed poem 'The Sundial' and the audience were immediately impressed by her passionate and erudite ideas......
Diane Louise Jordan, businesswoman and one of the most popular presenters of BBC One's Songs of Praise, gave a talk and answered questions about how her faith influences the way she conducts her own business life and on matters relating to business ethics and corporate social responsibility more generally.
If you missed House Drama, or would like to see your daughter's performance again, a professional Double DVD recording by Kingsbridge AV Limited of all five productions will be available to order at a cost of £22.50 each.
Click here to find out how to order
This Trust was established in November 2006 as part of the agreed resolution of the OFT's recent investigation.
The objects of the Trust are to:
There are three criteria for eligibility:
For further details go to <Joining Downe> and click on <Scholarships>