Drama is taught across Years 7 to 12, offering our students the opportunity to explore their creative impulses in a challenging, friendly, safe and collaborative way. This allows them to develop social & performance skills that are applicable in all aspects of their life experience.
Students learn a variety of dramatic skills through observation, improvisation, role-play, script interpretation and play-making, which can promote confidence, motivation and self-esteem. These experiences can also enhance learning activities in other subject areas relating to problem-solving, working with others, public speaking and a sense of achievement in ideas development and presentation.
Our dedicated Performing Arts Centres give our students the opportunity to perform on stage with a live audience and high-end audio visual equipment.
Curriculum
Years 7 and 8
Students in Years 7 and 8 are introduced to the fundamental dramatic expressive skills of using Facial Expression, Body Movement, and Voice and Gesture to create stories and explore the world around them. This is achieved through investigation of the History of Drama, Comedy and Melodrama and its practice in many diverse cultures across many different time periods.
Years 9 and 10
Students in Years 9 and 10 start to focus on key performance techniques such as Commedia Dell Árte, Elizabethan Theatre and the teachings of Konstantin Stanislavski. This allows them to develop critical assessment skills to review and report on performances they’ve watched. This enhances their acting and presenting skills and inspires them to take more risks in performing in challenging and difficult roles, outside their comfort zone.
VCE
VCE Drama students engage in the exploration of a variety of Non-Naturalistic acting techniques, working collaboratively in group-devised Ensemble presentations and producing Solo performances to an audience. A strong emphasis on Stagecraft is encouraged whereby students learn to employ costume, props, lighting and sound in the development and presentation of their stories.
“Our talented students undertaking Drama at both Mentone and Bentleigh East Campuses have transported us to different worlds, allowing us to walk in the shoes of diverse characters, and taught us the power of storytelling.
Year 12 Theatre Studies students took the audience to Hollywood in 1939, with their imaginative interpretation of Moonlight And Magnolias. These students worked tirelessly for six months designing, developing and presenting all production elements to bring this entertaining comic farce to life.
Another big highlight was watching Year 9 Drama participating in the annual ACC Drama Day at Mazenod College. Students took part in various Drama workshops, developing and showcasing their acting skills, experimenting with acrobatics and learning acting techniques for film.
Drama is a great way for students to explore and express themselves, nurture their imagination and unearth different strengths. It’s been a joy to watch each learner find the confidence to try new things, communicate their creativity and vision – and take themselves to new heights. Bravo!”
Bridget Day
LEARNING AREA LEADER – DRAMA AND THE ATRE STUDIES
