Co-Educational Day School and Boarding from 0-18 years
Eastbourne Road
Seaford, East Sussex
UK, BN25 4NP
Tel: 01323 490000
Tel (Outside UK):
+44 1323 490000
Fax: 01323 898420
E.mail:
registrar@newlands-school.com
enquiries@newlands-school.com
Performing Arts Drama
Performing arts drama at Newlands recognises that acting skills within the performing arts are now more important than ever, both in terms of straight acting itself and the increasing emphasis upon quality of characterisation and truthfulness within musical theatre. Tuition within the Performing Arts faculty aims to reinforce and supplement the drama work that is undertaken in terms of the general curriculum, with an added professional emphasis in terms of its practical application.
The main focus and backbone of Performing Arts Drama is based upon regular private tutorials (usually one-to-one or in pairs and small groups if preferred), supported by group workshops appropriate to age. This solid foundation not only leads to performances of plays, special drama evenings, appearances at festivals, touring productions and other exciting events, but also to co-operative ventures with the dance and music departments, such as ambitious musical productions - The Sound of Music and A Chorus Line being the most recent and successful examples.
As well as in-house production, the faculty also uses the historic Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne to stage shows open to (and marketed at) the general public. This gives the students the opportunity of demonstrating the skills they have learned to a wider audience and find the energy and dynamics of performance needed for a real and sizeable theatre.
Although the school boasts its own theatre at present, there are plans for developing a larger, better equipped and more flexible venue in the future.
There is also the opportunity to work towards Guildhall and LAMDA Drama Examinations, with an examiner from Guildhall visiting the school at least once (and often twice) a year. This enables students to progress strongly through the grades, culminating with many achieving Distinction at Gold Medal and even Diploma level.
The ethos of the training is firmly based upon professional principles, with an emphasis upon acquiring the discipline and focus required to work in theatre and in-front of a camera: there is a strong element of professional experience within the staff. However, the overall aim is to not only equip the students for stage and film work at various levels but also to encourage all of the many life skills associated with drama and acting - such as communication, imagination, self belief and dedication.
The quality of the tuition is high and includes improvisation, text work, production skills, technique, voice and movement.
Plays from all periods are studied, including modern playwrights. There is also a strong emphasis placed upon the acting of classical (especially Shakespearean) texts and large scale productions of Shakespeare are planned for the future.
The Performing Arts Drama Department works closely with all of the curriculum drama that the school offers, and focuses especially upon the practical performance requirements of the public examination GCSE, AS and A2 level syllabuses. As with music and dance, there is much crossover of teaching staff between the dedicated Performing Arts Drama and the curriculum lessons. There is also strong liaison with the art department in terms of design, set construction and stage management.
The school often arranges for students to attend suitable professional auditions and many Newlands pupils have appeared on television and film, as well as appearing in local professional pantomimes and summer seasons.
