Motto ‘Plus est en vous’ – There is more in you.
Who we are!
Drama at RBAI encourages self-expression, interpersonal skills, and teamwork. The Drama department is committed to providing all our students with creative opportunities to capture the imagination. Our co-curricular studies include working with texts in practice, understanding drama and devising theatre. In the safe environment of our drama studio, we promote a culture of creativity, learning and ambition through nurturing collaboration and personal growth.
Curriculum Drama
- Curriculum Drama is taught in year 8 in our drama studio by drama specialists, Mrs Victoria McCord and Mrs Kim McClean. Pupils engage in a variety of topics such as Commedia Dell’ Arte, Shakespeare Sketches as well as drama theory and stage craft. Thanks to the generous donation of RBAI Alumni the boys get the chance to explore backstage and production elements through our sound and lighting rig and equipment.
- In years 9 and 10, students explore academic drama through studying Shakespeare’s texts ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’ in the summer term
Senior Drama Society
- Each year, pupils in years 11-14 get the opportunity to take part in a large, big budget musical alongside girls from Victoria College, Belfast. This is always a highlight of the school year. Directed and produced by Mrs Kim McClean, pupils have showcased their talents in musicals such as ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Grease’, and ‘Blood Brothers- A tribute’. Pupils perform these large musicals on the stage in the common hall to sold out audiences during the winter term.
- Senior drama society also showcase their talents in the more intimate venue of our Christchurch Library. Over the years pupils have performed in ‘The Sound of Musical’, ‘Boy!-Tales of Childhood’, ‘Private Peaceful’ and Pygmalion’.
- Senior pupils also get the opportunity to work alongside professional sound and lighting company ‘Mac Sound’. Teaching the boys specialist skills that they can carry and share in other events during their school career.
- Dance - We celebrate and encourage all forms of the expressive and performing arts. Mrs Antoinette McMichael (Inchmarlo and musical theatre choreographer) works with our senior boys to accomplish quality dance performances.
- Show band- boys can still be involved in drama society through our show band, conducted by Mrs Deirdre Harshaw our M.D for all senior productions.
Junior Drama Club
- Mrs McClean also coordinates our very popular Junior Drama Club. Pupils in years 8-10 meet every Thursday at lunch time to work on their performance skills. Mrs McClean also guides the junior drama boys through auditions for local productions both amateur and professional.
- Junior Drama Club members make regular contributions to our whole school Christmas assembly as well as larger productions such as ‘Aladdin’, with Bloomfield Collegiate and ‘Saturday night at the movies’ with Victoria College.
Trips and events
- Both senior and junior drama pupils get the opportunity to take part in workshops at the Grand Opera House and The Lyric Theatre. We regularly support pupils doing external performances as well as welcome theatre companies to our school to do internal workshops.
- Drama society members also host C.S Lewis Day in Christchurch. With scenes from the famous and beloved Chronicles of Narnia novels being performed for year 8 pupils- and plenty of hot chocolate and Turkish delight served to everyone
- Shakespeare - RBAI has a rich tradition of staging Shakespeare plays. Over the years we have produced Hamlet, The Tempest (Directed by Mrs Victoria McCord) and ‘Macbeth’ (Directed by Mrs McClean) as well as our summer showcase, ‘Shakespeare & Strawberries.’
- We are currently collaborating with girls from Hunterhouse College to stage our version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on 15th June 6.30pm in Christchurch Library.
Mrs K.S.A. McClean BA (Hons), P.G.C.E, Dip LCM
Teacher in Charge of Co-Curricular Drama
Director of Whole School Drama
RBAI