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The Drama Program

Academic and Co-curricular

"The Vision of the Southport School is to ensure that each boy, on completion of a broadly based and balanced education at the School, is satisfied that he has achieved his personal best so that he can successfully pursue his ambitions and make a worthwhile contribution to society."

The teaching of drama within the school, with its functions both as a curricular and co-curricular activity, fosters this philosophy. As well as developing an understanding of drama and learning essential dramatic skills, the students develop effective social interaction, self discipline and confidence. There is an accent on the development of life skills, and through their drama studies they are also able to examine their own values and make reasoned moral judgements.

Year 8:  Students participate in three 'workshop' style Creative Arts lessons per week. They rotate through three of the four art forms - Art, Drama, and Media - in blocks of 18 - 20 lessons. Students are given training in basic drama skills and a profile is kept for each student using the headings - Forming, Presenting, Responding. This affords students an insight into the subject prior to making subject choices in Years 9 and 10. 
Years 9 and 10: The Junior Board subject Drama is offered as an elective and is a popular subject. Students are allocated three lessons per week and the course offers opportunities to develop skills in improvisation, student-devised drama and scripted drama.
Year 11 & 12: Senior drama caters for those students who wish to extend their learning and enjoyment in this area. The study of Drama enables some students to seek entry into tertiary courses, but for the majority it provides an opportunity to develop an interest which will become a valued leisure pursuit. For all students, it provides a special opportunity to learn more about themselves, the world around them and their place in that world.

The Drama Courses at TSS foster improved communication skills, self-confidence, self discipline and the ability to work in group situations. Students learn to understand and manage the aesthetic and cultural processes which operate in their community and the wider society. It is hoped that after the completion of the course the student "can successfully pursue his ambitions and make a worthwhile contribution to society".

The Co-curricular drama program offers a wide range of experiences which include: House Drama Festival, Gold Coast Secondary Schools' Drama Festival - Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions, School Musicals, and Theatre Crew. Students gain experience as script-writers, directors, actors and production crew. Outstanding achievement in this area is rewarded through the school's Awards system, for example, with a representative blazer.

The Annand Theatre is an excellent performance space seating approximately 600. It is fully rigged with sound and lighting facilities and has a workshop for set building and props storage. The school also has a teaching drama studio suitable for more experimental work.

 

Page last modified 05-Feb-2008