Drama at King's
Drama
Drama enjoys a high profile at King’s. Opportunities to star on stage start in the Infants and continue right through into the Sixth Form.
Highlights of the year for many parents are those special occasions when the children display the fruits of their labours on stage. Christmas and summer productions are held in the Infants & Juniors, where children perform to a full house of proud and delighted parents and grandparents. Every year, our Year 4 pupils stage a pantomime (oh yes they do) and Year 6 pupils wow audiences with a full musical show (often to rival the West End). In recent years, Matilda, Bugsy Malone, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins have been performed to packed audiences.
Senior pupils can opt for Theatre Studies as one of their GCSE choices and, later, as an A-Level subject. In addition, large numbers participate in our Drama Club and in theatrical productions, acting or helping backstage with stage management, sound, props and lighting. We also offer pupils the opportunity to participate in our LAMDA programme, and are able to take examinations in Verse & Prose, Acting, Public Speaking and Musical Theatre. Recent productions have included Guys & Dolls, Oliver!, Les Miserables, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Bugsy Malone. Regular trips are organised to many of the North West’s theatres and to Stratford. In addition, King’s produces high quality and ambitious musicals combining the musical and dramatic talents of pupils. Pirates of Penzance and Les Misérables are two of the most recent extravaganzas.
Inspiring Creativity, Confidence and Success
At King’s, our Drama curriculum is carefully designed to inspire, challenge and nurture every student. We believe Drama is not only about performance, but also about developing the essential skills that allow young people to thrive both in the classroom and beyond.
Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
- Drama Clubs: We offer thriving clubs for both Lower and Senior School, giving all students a chance to get involved.
- Annual School Musical: A highlight of the year, our whole-school musical brings together large casts, live audiences and professional production values.
- The King’s Theatre Company: Students can audition to be part of our own theatre company, developing their craft in a professional-style setting.
- Theatre Trips: We regularly take students to see live productions, broadening their cultural experience and inspiring their work in school.
- Industry Links: Our programme is enriched by visits and workshops with theatre professionals, providing insight into the creative industries.
A Curriculum for Success
Our Drama curriculum is ambitious, carefully sequenced and inclusive. Students are supported to develop creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and confidence — the key skills they need for academic success, personal growth, and their future lives.
More than Just Drama
Drama at King’s builds confidence, resilience and teamwork — life skills that benefit students' whatever path they choose. Whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in the classroom, every student has the opportunity to shine.
DRAMA & MUSIC
The Drama Department regularly collaborates with colleagues in the Music department to put on large-scale productions. In the Infant & Junior Division, annual productions include an Infant Nativity, Year 4 production and Year 6 musical, with recent productions including Matilda and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
For Senior and Sixth Form pupils, we present a bi-annual full school musical; recent productions have included Guys & Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors, Oliver! and Les Misérables. In addition, the department regularly creates original musical scores for further school productions.