Courses and Extra Curricular Activities
Here is a brief overview of the various opportunities, both curricular and extracurricular, offered by the drama department at Saint Maur International School. All students study one semester of drama in Grades 6 and 7 and then have the option to continue their study all the way through high school. In addition, there are various extracurricular opportunities available for both middle and high school students, including speech contest and drama club. All students are welcome to audition for these activities!
Grade 6 Drama
Grade 6 drama is the introduction to the formal study of drama at Saint Maur International School. Students develop their skills in voice, movement and ensemble work by adapting a poem for the stage.
Grade 7 Drama
In the second year of drama, students perform short scripts in small groups. They are also introduced to the technical and design elements of drama, including lighting, sound, set and costume design.
Grade 8 Drama
In Grade 8 drama, students look at voice and physicality in more detail. They also produce their own one-act production in the second semester. Students who choose drama as their year-long option for Grade 8 participate in the annual Kanto Plain Middle School Drama festival.
IGCSE Drama (Grades 9 and 10)
This course follows the IGCSE curriculum from Cambridge International Examinations. Students film three performance: an individual piece and two group pieces. They also study extracts from two plays in preparation for a written exam at the end of the course.
IB Literature and Performance (Grades 11 and 12)
In the last two years of high school, students can opt to study literature and performance, an interdisciplinary course offered by the International Baccalaureate, which combines literary analysis with performance elements. At the heart of the course is the process of adaptation, as students need to adapt a piece of literature for the stage. They also study and perform a Shakespeare play and three other literary texts to analyse under exam conditions. This course is perfect for those seeking more practical and creative elements to their study of literature.
Extracurriular Activities
In addition to the courses described here, the drama department at Saint Maur International School also offers plentiful opportunities for students to be involved in theatrical productions and public speaking. Every year there is a high school and a middle school production. The department aims to choose works that reflect a wide diversity of styles and genres, including classical and contemporary, comedic and more serious, as well as musical and non-musical works. Students are leaders both on and offstage in a variety of roles and positions. In addition, the annual Kanto Plain Speech Contest offers students opportunities to develop their confidence and skills in public speaking with a variety of categories, including Humorous, Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry, Storytelling, Original Informative, Original Persuasive, Extemporaneous and Multiple Reading. Students must submit auditions in order to qualify for drama club or speech contest.
