Hurtwood House School

Want a subject that enables you to get up and explore how other people think or feel? Want a subject that will stretch your imagination as well as your body? Want a subject that will only be satisfying when you reach out and work with others creatively? Then this is the one for you!
The satisfaction you will get from creating a role, realising a set design or devising your own piece of theatre is like no other.

The success of this department is built on the passion and professionalism of the staff and the inspiration of the students who work with us. We come from a range of backgrounds – academic and creative – but we all share a commitment to quality.

At Hurtwood we look to shock, amaze and challenge our students, not only through work within the course, but by exposure to a range of other theatre experiences. We mount in-house productions to a high standard; we invite top experimental and fringe companies to perform, up to six in a year, and have co-produced Edinburgh Fringe productions; we also take trips out to local and West End theatres to see the best commercial work. But our focus is not only on conventional theatre, for we believe in the integration of the arts, so dance, musical theatre and performance art all feed into the rich diet of Theatre Studies at Hurtwood. Our Creative Arts complex is equipped to professional standards with working professionals to tutor you in the technical skills across the board. Acting, dance and singing tuition is available in groups or on an individual basis. Combined with the superb facilities of the Music Technology department and the Media department’s video recording and editing suite, this offers opportunities second to none in schools for exploring everything that theatre can attempt.

The Hurtwood Theatre department consists of ten members of staff. Each member of staff is a working theatre practitioner and each tutor brings a diverse and specialist set of skills to the department. Many of the teachers in the department continue to work, perform, devise and direct professionally. We also work with visiting experts and practitioners to ensure that we offer a creative, contemporary and educational team that is hard to beat. Team teaching is practised to promote the maximum cross-fertilisation of talent and ideas which we hope will be a creative crucible for the students’ own development.

Where do our students go? Into all sorts of university courses and careers! Some go to drama schools where we have personal contacts and a good record of success. Some go to creative and performing arts courses, but many others to business or more conventional courses.

What is certain is that the personal development in self-confidence, inter-personal skills and creative and imaginative insights that this course gives our students puts them ahead in making the most of their potential in whatever field they choose.

There are two courses:
AS one-year – two modules
A2 second year – two more modules

There are four strands:
a). The study of texts and how they may be performed
b). The practical skills of performing, designing and directing
c). The critical assessment of live performance
d). The study of theatre history and key practitioners

In Year One you will practically explore two contrasting plays and consider how a theatre practitioner influences the staging and presentation of ideas. This unit is assessed through both practical and written coursework. This unit provides the structure and lays the foundations for the Unit 2 performance exam where an external examiner assesses either your performance or design skills. This production is directed by your theatre teacher and is part of the Hurtwood Festival in the Spring Term. In the final term you will evaluate a live production through another piece of coursework and perform or design a monologue or duologue.
 
In Year Two you extend your knowledge and skills in these areas and are assessed on more independent and demanding tasks for the full A-Level. In both years the written work goes hand-in-hand with your practical experience of drama and theatre. You will devise an original piece of theatre and reflect on your work through a structured piece of coursework.

Year One (Advanced Subsidiary GCSE)
Unit 1 (40%)
You will explore in structured classes/workshops two contrasting play texts (chosen by us) and write up notes on the dramatic style, interpretation and presentation of them both. This will be submitted as coursework and at least one text will focus on a key theatre practitioner.

Unit 2 (60%)
You will work on the production of a play directed by a tutor, as either actor or designer. A visiting examiner marks the production.

Also in Year One you will be able to opt for a Musical Theatre course. This is unique in schools and introduces students to this distinctive and powerful genre. Our Head of Dance and Musical Director give a basic training in the various styles of this twentieth-century phenomenon. Alongside this there will be the opportunity to explore all forms of dance – jazz, ballet or contemporary - in classes or private lessons.

Year Two (Advanced GCSE)
Unit 3 (40%)
You will work in groups to devise an original piece of drama from a stimulus set by your teacher. This will be work in a particular style or genre and you will be assessed on your acting or design skills as well as your overall contribution to the rehearsal process. You will keep a structured record which will document and analyse your work as it develops. This is submitted as coursework and is internally assessed.

Unit 4 (60%)
You will prepare one of three historical texts set by the board, as if you were going to direct it and answer questions in a written paper. You will also research the past performance history of any play from a different historical period. You will evaluate a contemporary production of this play and then compare the performance to the original staging conditions.

‘I chose Theatre Studies as the acting and practical side really interested me. I would definitely get involved in the theatre here as it is so much fun.’ (Isla)

‘The Theatre Studies teachers are full of enthusiasm which makes the subject appealing and full of life.” (Alice)

“Theatre Studies at Hurtwood has a unique way of building confidence, enabling you to be more expressive in practical work as well as in the written section of the course.’ (Rob)

‘If you enjoy theatre it is the perfect A-Level subject – you discover text, learn direction, set design and performance. Everyone has skills; it is about learning how to apply them and at Hurtwood the teachers make this easy.’ (Lizzie)

‘Theatre Studies gives you an opportunity to explore your imagination whether you are acting, directing or behind the scenes. Hurtwood offers so many other opportunities in theatre which really helps the A-Level due to the whole theatre experience.’ (James) 

Not really – we get extroverts and introverts, academics and artisans. But since theatre reflects life, all that is required is an interest in that, and how it might be transformed into something to share with an audience. There are many ways Theatre Studies links with other subjects – English, Music, Art, Psychology, Sociology, Media, History – all make good combinations and share our concern for how life works and how we represent it to other people.

You may not feel you have the confidence to be a performer but we can encourage you to become one or develop your imagination through the visual and technical contribution of a designer. For a theatrical team, as in life, the variety of people in it is one of its strengths.