Drama

Drama is taught from year 4 in our purpose built Drama Studio. It is taught by a specialist teacher from year 6. Pupils are encouraged to use improvisation to explore topics and improvisation skills and techniques are built on and enhanced over the years.

Pupils are also introduced to a variety of plays from an early age either by going to the theatre or by bringing theatrical companies into the school.

The pupils are also encouraged to perform in front of an audience as often as possible. Within the drama lesson they will perform to their peers and there are also opportunities in assemblies. The juniors take part in a Christmas production and year 5-8 students usually get a chance to perform in the junior/middle school play in the summer. All year 9 pupils present an evening of drama in February along with the year 10 GCSE students. The year 11 GCSE drama students perform their exam pieces to family and friends just before "the big day!"

Students are also encouraged to perform in the Bedford Festival of Music, Speech and Drama where they have achieved consistently high results in the Group Improvisation classes, the Spontaneous Improvisation Pair Work classes and the Paired Mime class. Occasionally Rushmoor enters other drama festivals such as the ISA Drama Festival, the Beds Drama Festival and the Cambridge Drama Festival. Again, we achieve highly and one year won five awards, including Best Youth Actor.

Last year we wrote our own school musical "Gordon the G^reek", which included pupils from years 6-10.

Drama is an extremely popular subject at Rushmoor. It is evident that through drama pupils develop their communication skills, self confidence, creativity, co-operation skills and team work. The contribution to the whole pupil and their self esteem is immense.

Each year a drama trophy is awarded to a junior pupil, a middle school pupil and a senior school pupil who in the opinion of the drama department has produced the most consistently high standard of performance. A technical cup is also presented to a senior boy who has been particularly helpful with lighting and sound. Drama colours are awarded to senior boys who have shown particularly ability and who have contributed to the drama life of the school above and beyond lessons; for example, assisting with directing the junior/middle school play, being part of the technical crew and/or representing the school in drama festivals.

All GCSE students go to see several professional productions a year and participate in drama workshops which help towards their exam work.

Each year the drama department organises a drama trip abroad. Last year we went to Euro Disney, Paris, where boys from Years 9-11 found out all about auditions and careers in Euro Disney and how the various shows are put together, including the breath-taking stunt show.

Andra Bishop

Head of Drama

Past pupils:

Henry Luxemburg former Rushmoor Pupil

Henry attended Rushmoor School for boys where he stayed until he was 16. Henry thoroughly enjoyed his time at Rushmoor and in his final year was made Head Boy.

Once Henry's actor training had finished, he found his first professional acting role as a kidney dialysis patient in the BBC drama Doctors. Before the episode had gone to air, Henry was offered the role of Toby Mills in the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks and without delay he made his way up north to the television sets in Liverpool where he was to stay for the next two and a half years. Pantomime was soon to come and Henry was thrilled to play Prince Charming alongside Julian Clary in Cinderella for two years running. Between his pantomime performances Henry played Thomas Gorge in The Lifeblood, a highly acclaimed production that dealt with the life of Mary Queen of Scots.