Drama
"Why then, I'll fit you", Thomas Kyd, OMT, The Spanish Tragedy
Drama has a great tradition at MTS, the school of Thomas Kyd, John Webster and James Shirley and there are many ways in which you can become involved with drama at Merchant Taylors’ School: both as a curriculum subject and as an extra-curricular activity.
As an extra-curricular activity, you have opportunities throughout the year to act, direct or work back-stage .
Every year there are two major productions, one usually in the Great Hall (in alternate years a musical) and one in the Studio Theatre. At this time in recent years, we have mounted productions of such large shows as Guys and Dolls, The Tempest, West Side Story and Amadeus. Shows are generally put on in conjunction with girls from St. Helen’s. In 2005, our show was My Fair Lady in The Great Hall and you can see shots from that show here. Many boys from Merchant Taylors’ can also be seen in the production at St. Helen’s.
In the Spring Term, boys in the divisions and below are eligible for the Junior Production in the Studio Theatre. Last year we performed A Gas Station Angel, having in previous years mounted such productions as Our Country’s Good, Coriolanus, The Canterbury Tales and The Government Inspector.
In 2004 we introduced a production in the Summer Term for members of the Lower School. Matinee and evening audiences enjoyed a version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2004 and in 2005 we produced Ernie’s Incredible Adventure.
Added to this there are two major drama competitions at School.
One is the House Drama Competition in October. For this competition the Senior boys will choose, direct and produce a short play that boys in the Divisions year and below (Years 7-10) will act in.
The other is the annual Senior and Junior Duologues Competition, held every February; you choose, direct and perform a piece of your own for an external adjudicator.
After school clubs
Of course, it is not just actors we cater for at Merchant Taylors’! Many boys volunteer to contribute to the backstage effort on productions, and opportunities to work on lighting, projection, set building, set painting and sound, exist for boys of all ages. Parents too, make a valuable contribution through the Drama Support Group, whose help with make-up, costumes, props and refreshments is invaluable. Their fund-raising recently helped a group of students take their own show to the Edinburgh Festival and they financed a production of Julius Caesar so that 24 boys could perform on a professional stage as part of the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival.
We currently have two after school clubs: one for younger boys, which is run by the Sixth Form, who guide those involved through a number of skills and practitioners' approaches to drama; the second is run by our Theatre Technician - here boys are taught how to use all of the technical equipment and how a professional theatre will run behind the scenes - these skills are then used during the various productions that take place throughout the year.
We hope any boy joining Merchant Taylors’ School will be able to find some way of experiencing the challenges and rewards offered by drama. Many competitors begin their drama careers at the school in the Year Nine theatre club, and finish by taking their studies of Drama and Theatre Studies to AS and A2 level.
Curriculum Drama and Theatre Studies
We aim to develop the boys’ appreciation for, and understanding of, Drama. As well as those skills that are specific to drama, students build upon their communication, cooperation, and confidence. Opportunities in and out of the classroom complement one another to allow for a full and rewarding experience.
Drama is taught throughout the school: it is a curriculum subject in years 7 and 8; delivered via English in Year 9; there is a Drama GCSE option for years 10 & 11; and as in the Sixth Form we offer AS and A2 Theatre Studies
The Thirds and Upper Thirds (Years Seven and Eight)
During the two years, students are taught practical skills and how to use these to create their own drama. Activities are focussed towards encouraging the boys to produce thoughtful work that is shaped for a specific purpose and audience.
The Fourths (Year Nine)
All classes in the Fourth Form (Year 9) study drama. Boys will extend the skills learnt in the Thirds and Upper thirds (Years 7 & 8), and add to their repertoire of knowledge, learning about practitioners and different dramatic styles such as Physical Theatre. The course will also teach the boys to design technical elements such as set, lighting and sound, and to write as critics and practitioners.
Drama at GCSE
The GCSE course concentrates upon building the skills, knowledge and understanding of drama in performance, both through the boys creating their own work and through evaluating other work. Students will study play texts from a practical point of view, and devise their own work using a number of theatrical skills that they learn on the course. It is important to us that the boys will get the opportunity to look at all aspect of a production, including planning lighting and set designs. This course complements both an interest in drama and experiences in the extra curricular side of the school.
Drama and Theatre Studies A-Level
In the first year of the A-level boys can expand upon existing knowledge, attained from the GCSE and/or extra-curricular drama. The students study two texts in depth, both through practical work and theory; they will also perform an hour long piece for an external examiner, through which they will gain an appreciation of the full production process.
The A2 further develops a range of skills and understanding through practical and written work. There are two practical, devised exams in this year; through which the boys’ knowledge and creative skill are tested. In the final unit students study the history of the theatre and take on the role of director for a written exam.
We ensure that all practical exams can be attended by family and friends.
Facilities
The studio theatre seats up to 150 in both a permanent gallery and flexible stage seating. Drama lessons at all levels take place in the studio theatre and, for GCSE and A-level, take full advantage of the stage-set, lighting and sound equipment. Boys can also train to use the lighting and sound equipment for extra curricular productions. For the musical productions, our school hall is transformed, by professional artisans, into a venue that seats 500. The students who are involved in the musical also benefit from singing with professional musicians.
