EDUCATION
PERFORMING ARTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BY SARAH CAKEBREAD , DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS AT CLAREMONT SENIOR SCHOOL
BEING A TEENAGER IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS CHALLENGING ENOUGH , BUT IN AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL WORLD , WHERE ONE ’ S ACTIONS , ACHIEVEMENTS , IDEAS AND OPINIONS ARE OFTEN THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY ON SOCIAL MEDIA , YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY IN THEIR OWN SKIN ARE WELL PLACED TO TAKE THE ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH . LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , I GIVE YOU THE PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT !
Unlike any area of school life , the moment a student leaves the maths room , sports field or science lab and enters the theatre , the stage is already set for scenes of high drama and risk taking , where life experiences outside school really matter , and are poured into every new idea , character and sketch . This creates endless opportunities for trial and error driven by ‘ who ’ each student is , rather than what could be perceived to be ‘ taught ’. In this respect , students really do find themselves in the best place ; at the very centre of their own learning .
During drama lessons , we genuinely feel we are all ‘ in this together ’, every single one of us , ‘ giving it a go ’, trying out a different idea , playing it a different way , just for the hell of it ; just to see what happens . We don ’ t have the answers , and the progressive performing arts programme doesn ’ t ask that of its students ; happening upon an original idea by chance , rather than following a tried and tested ‘ process ’ in pursuit of one , is the happy and common byproduct of the drama lesson . It ’ s a ‘ safe ’ place to ‘ play ’, with physical , mental and emotional demands that take students to more complex levels of self expression , helping them to refine and accentuate their thinking around the problems and challenges they face there . Some students can only be the very best version of themself when they give themselves over to a learning environment where anything goes … and in the theatre it certainly does ! It can be truly humbling to witness a student emerge out of themselves during a lesson ; to unlock a hidden talent , find their voice or temporarily allow us to glimpse into their soul . A bit dramatic ? Absolutely ! In the theatre students embark on the most profound journeys of selfdiscovery as they explore the deep complexities of the human condition . They also learn that flexibility , resilience and adaptability are essential if they are to change the settings and scenarios around themselves to accommodate new ideas . It is the reason why my students consider any corridor , classroom or unclaimed patch of grass to be a viable location for collaborative working .
The drama studio is a gloriously creative space where it pays to be brave and the accidental nature of lessons , mimic life outside . My LAMDA teacher and I often ponder circumstances beyond school , where our students will find their skills wasted - after much debate , we have decided that working in a cupboard on your own , may just fit the bill ! The drama studio is a learning environment where every student has worth , every idea a possibility and where it is accepted that others ' opinions of us don ’ t have to become our reality . It ’ s a special place where you can ’ t help but develop life skills that will endure . It ’ s also a nice place to dress up and pretend to be someone else !
Claremont School holds the title of ‘ Independent School of the Year for the Performing Arts 2021 ’.
www . claremontschool . co . uk
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