Opportunities to be involved in or to run extracurricular drama activities are many and varied. This is made all the more special by the enthusiasm and commitment shown by our students.
Our older students are always keen to share their ideas and knowledge with those further down the School. Along with staff who are passionate about their subject, this helps to make extracurricular drama at St Helen’s an exciting and vibrant environment, instilling an appreciation of the dramatic arts that lasts a lifetime.
Quite simply, there is something for everyone in St Helen’s drama. Whether you want to be on stage or behind the scenes, if you are passionate about theatre and performance, keen to learn and willing to devote time and energy to creating exciting work then you can be involved! Come and be part of the creative picture!
Large scale productions
Drama productions are a highly anticipated event, attended by the whole school community and beyond. Productions often have sell–out audiences, giving students the opportunity to enjoy showcasing their hard work to a full and appreciative theatre. Each year we stage at least one senior production, one Middle School production and one Lower School production in one of our professional grade performance spaces The annual Senior production includes a cast made up of St Helen’s students and visiting boys from local schools. Taking part in productions offers an opportunity to develop your skills, build confidence and work with new people, as well as making new friends. Last year, four large productions took place, encompassing contrasting styles and genres, meaning plenty of opportunities for all.
Recent productions have included The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Matilda the Musical, Made in Dagenham, A Christmas Carol, Ballet Shoes, Little Women, A Monster Calls, Grease, The Visit, Beauty and the Beast, Animal Farm, As You Like It, The Government Inspector, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Alice in Wonderland, My Fair Lady, An Ideal Husband, Second Person Narrative, Hetty Feather and Seussical the Musical.
Smaller productions
In addition to our main performances, we offer a number of additional opportunities throughout the year. Sixth Form Drama scholars often direct other students in productions. Recent projects have included an original piece written and directed by a Sixth Form drama scholar entitled ‘*********’, She and I, a scholar devised physical theatre two-hander and an original musical production entitled Theodora, celebrating the life of the little-known Greek Empress. In addition, recent scholars have convened a Drama lunchtime cabaret, where students from all year groups performed scripted extracts, directed a showcase of Shakespeare pieces, and directed a scripted production of All on Her Own by Terrence Rattigan.
Original playwriting is also encouraged and supported through the annual Playwriting Competition, with the winning entry being staged as a lunchtime performance which is enjoyed by an audience of students, parents and staff. In 2026 , students performed in the circus inspired Cirque de la Vie, written and co-directed by two Year 9 students. Previous winning playwriting competition performances have included the powerful drama Lost in Dreams written and co-directed by a student in Year 9, and the WWII drama The Piano Player written and co-directed by a member of Year 8.
Clubs and societies
Clubs take place weekly during lunchtimes and after school. Junior (SHSK Prep), Lower and Middle School drama clubs work towards lunchtime performances based on scripts and improvisational work explored throughout the year. Technical Theatre club explores all aspects of backstage work. Sixth Form drama assistants and teachers run these clubs, offering enjoyable, informal platforms for exploring and developing drama skills through games and activities. Alongside being fun, drama clubs also give younger students a sense of how they can enhance and improve upon their class work if they choose to continue with drama further up the school. The Sixth Form drama club allows a group of dedicated students the opportunity to hone their performance skills in an informal environment, led by Sixth Form drama scholars. The Drama Department Director-in Residence offers a range of clubs focused on different aspects of performance and playwriting. Students are encouraged to take the initiative in utilising drama spaces to undertake independent rehearsal or practical work during lunchtimes and after school and the drama department is always buzzing with groups of students working on performances.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Students enjoy opportunities to develop their skills through competitions and one-off performances. Year 9 students have recently enjoyed coming in joint first and second place in the recent OX14 Shakespeare Shorts Competition at Radley School, adjudicated by a professional actor. Sixth form students have enjoyed successful runs at tend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the original production of Antiques and a collaborative project entitled Contact Light – an original play written by two St Helen’s alumnae, Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson.
