What it Means to be a SCHS Drama Scholar

Our scholars are girls in whom we see exceptional talent or potential. Our drama scholars are invited to participate in scholar-specific trips and workshops as well as all SCHS drama events, which include:

• Termly school productions
• Workshops with professional theatre companies
• Trips to to major London Theatres

Just as we nurture their talent and provide unique, door-opening opportunities, our scholars also serve as role models to inspire and encourage others in the school and the wider community, whether its leading clubs for younger girls, or special assemblies.

What we expect

Drama Scholars are the flag-bearers of the department within the student body. As a Drama Scholar, the individual will be brave and confident in her public persona, demonstrating skill and creativity in lessons and beyond. The Drama Scholar will be a supportive student, both in class and in the extra-curricular pursuits of the department. She will empower her peers and younger students, inspiring those around her to excel as she does.

Drama scholar responsibilities

• Drama Scholars should be subject role models in terms of their conduct, effort and skill.
• They should always strive to meet their full potential, be fully motivated and be prepared to work outside of their comfort zone.
• All Drama Scholars should be involved in the productions for which they are eligible:
  – Lower School Play (U3-U4)
  – Upper School Play (L5-U6)
  – Whole School Musical (all years)
• If scholars do not audition, they are expected to be a part of the production team in some capacity. Scholars in examination years, where there is a heavy workload, may opt to do this instead, but there is some leniency over expectation here if the timing of productions interferes directly with examinations.
• They will work throughout the year on small performances that will be presented as part of a Scholars’ Celebration Evening in the Summer Term.
• Scholars are responsible for keeping the Drama Noticeboard updated. This provides details of: production rehearsals, forthcoming trips, LAMDA information, play-rehearsals, in-house performances, recent photos and what’s going on in the department.
• Scholars are expected to attend regular sessions that allows them time to focus on their responsibilities, builds skills and rehearses for performances.
• They should approach all of their drama work with flair and creativity and not be afraid of failure.

Facilities

• Large drama studio
• Abundant costume cupboard
• Two performing arts spaces with professional lighting and sounds systems

Our staff

Head of Mrs Thane-Woodhams has been a teacher for 22 years. Before teaching she was a director of a Youth Theatre in Birmingham. Her special interests are in the exploration and realisation of character and she encourages the girls to be brave and truthful in their performances.

How To Apply — 11+

Applicants and parents should provide the following for 2023

• Member of a drama society outside of school for at least 6 months in the last three years.
• NB – if the applicant has only joined a society in September as the society has been closed, please do submit an application anyway if all other criteria is fulfilled.
• Three performances to an external audience in the last 3 years. This includes school performances, online performances and anything that involves speaking in front of an audience, due to pandemic-affected performance.
• A fully completed application form (including personal statement as specified on the form itself.) Applicants may go onto an additional sheet for any answers as necessary, but should ensure this is indicated clearly on the form itself so that the information can be easily found.

Other Important Information

Qualifications such as LAMDA, Trinity, ABRSM and so forth are useful but not necessary in order to be awarded the scholarship. However, parents may wish to include this information and must provide copies of any certificates for the relevant qualifications, board and grade.

Information about the Workshop Stage of the process:

Everyone who meets the minimum criteria will be invited to attend an hour-long workshop at the School.

• The date of this will be early December 2023.
• The workshop will be led by one of the Drama Department and observed by the Director of Drama.
• There is no preparation for this stage, but girls must wear performance-appropriate clothing and bring a bottle of water.
• If face coverings are to be worn, you will be advised as such upon invitation.
• Girls who impress with their skills and ability to work with others will be shortlisted.

The Second Stage – Monologue Performance

The script extract of a monologue that the candidate will perform should they be asked to audition for the scholarship. This extract must adhere to the following criteria:

• The date of this will be January 2024.
• The chosen monologue must be from a full-length play that has been professionally published and is of a length of 45 minutes or more when performed in full.
• The extract must be between 1 and 2 minutes when performed.
• The candidate should learn their part and perform without a script. They may bring costume/prop items but please keep these to a minimum.
• The copy of the script in the application must also show which play it is from, the writer (and who the original book was by if it is an adaptation), which character you are playing. This can be hand-written on the copy if required.
• The section being performed should be highlighted.
• The monologue may be part of a conversation with the other character missed out, but it still must make sense as a speech on its own (i.e. any cut sections should be minimal and should not change the meaning of the original scene.)

If you are stuck for ideas, try some of the following suggestions:

• Daisy’s opening speech from Daisy Pulls It Off by Denise Deegan
• Any of the monologues from Mobile Phone Show by Jim Cartwright
• Rosie’s speech to her doll, Sukey, about it being her 8th birthday from My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley
• Helena’s speech about unrequited love in Act One of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.
• Alice falls down the rabbit hole and lands in Wonderland from any play adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (there are a few)
• Mickey’s poetic monologue/poem about his brother from Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
• Consult play adaptations of Roald Dahl books (e.g. Grandma from The Witches explaining what witches are, James from James and the Giant Peach, or any speeches by his evil Aunts) – there are many of them but they must be the play adaptation.

The Audition Process

• All applications will be looked at carefully and considered by the Director of Drama and the rest of the Drama Department. Those that meet the criteria and appear to be outstanding candidates will be invited to audition.
• We will be looking for evidence of skill, understanding, passion, creativity and ability to work with others. These can be communicated through any element of the application form and associated literature as requested (e.g. references, programmes from performances, personal statement.)
• Our advice to all candidates is that during the application process they should be themselves and show their passion for drama.
• The candidate will perform their monologue. It is expected that this will be learnt and there should be some awareness of the context of the play they have chosen the piece from (although they will not be tested on this as such, they must know, and be able to evidence in performance, something about the circumstances of the character and the play from a little bit of research.)
• They will then be asked a series of simple questions about the performance, their interpretation and further questions about drama and their application.

The deadline to apply online for specialist scholarships is Tuesday 31 October 2023. Successful candidates will be invited to The Drama Scholarship assessment which will be held in early December 2023. Candidates will be sent confirmation once the application deadline has passed.

Start your application now

How To Apply — 16+

We ask all Sixth Form candidates to choose their own monologue of 2-3 minutes in length that they feel showcases their strengths.

• The monologue must be from a published play (said play must be at least 45 minutes long when performed) that we expect the candidate to have read in full.
• Presenting your own writing, although commendable, is not acceptable for this particular application.
• The extract should be learnt by heart and performed without a script.
• All candidates will also have to participate in a short interview.

External candidates should also submit evidence/details of the following:

• GCSE Drama predicted grade and mock examination result.
• Any LAMDA or additional relevant qualifications (e.g. ABRSM Musical Theatre,Trinity qualifications etc.) either achieved or currently studying.
• A written reference from their school Drama teacher of no more than 200 words.
• Evidence of drama/performances outside of school (e.g. photos, programmes, newspaper articles etc.) from an alternative source (e.g. school teacher in charge of directing shows, LAMDA teacher etc) and should also provide a short explanation why they chose not to study GCSE Drama.
• They should also submit their predicted and mock examination grades for GCSE English and Literature.

Start your application now