Drama forms an important component of our academic and co-curricular programmes from early learning to Year 12. From simple role-playing in ELC through to improvisation, stage craft and full-scale musical productions in Senior School, drama offers inspiration, opportunity and imagination.
Students can engage in Drama across many year levels up to Year 12.
Dramatic play, dance and movement are important aspects of our ELC programmes which encourage our children to explore different modes of expression.
Primary school students participate in a range of dramatic activities developing an understanding of fantasy and reality, exploring feelings and issues, as well as using a variety of drama skills, such as mime and role-play.
Middle School students complete a semester of Drama with an emphasis on creative and confident expression. Years 7 and 8 students move beyond game-playing and improvisation into the types of activities that require greater technique and invention.
Drama is an elective subject in Year 10 providing an introduction to acting skills and theatrical production, building towards a dramatic production that is performed for a public audience.
In Years 11 and 12, students may pursue Drama through VCE Theatre Studies and IB Diploma Theatre Arts course (SL and HL).
The School hosts a vibrant and diverse range of dramatic compositions. School productions vary from musicals and classics to the latest in contemporary drama, House plays of all types and small-cast, physical theatre pieces.
All Toorak Campus students take part in the annual or biennial productions: Prep to Year 2 Production, Year 3 to 5 Production and Year 6 Commedia dell’Arte Performance. The annual Bostock House festival involves all students from ELC engaging in singing and performing.
The Middle School production takes place in Term 4 with past shows including Aladdin, Shrek and The Wizard of Oz. The production involves all Middle School students (Years 7 to Year 8) both on the stage and working behind the scenes in stage and set design, lighting, costume, make-up and sound operation. The production demands commitment and enthusiasm and is a much loved component of the Middle School calendar.
The annual Senior School play takes place in Term 1 and the Senior School musical in Term 3, and are open to all Senior School students by audition. Most rehearsals take place during the week with some occasional weekend days closer to performance.
Past Senior School shows include Chicago, Sense and Sensibility and Beauty and the Beast. Our students learn all elements of theatrical production, and more importantly work together in the collaborative processes of theatre: sharing the joys and the burdens of production.
