Drama

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!

Smaller productions

In addition to our main performances, we offer a number of smaller opportunities throughout the year. Sixth Form drama scholars often direct other students in productions and recent projects have included an original verbatim theatre production entitled Bubbles, written by two Sixth Form drama scholars. She and I, a scholar devised physical theatre two-hander and an original musical production entitled Theodora, celebrating the life of little-known Greek Empress. In addition, recent scholars’ directed a scripted production of All on Her Own by Terrence Rattigan. And students performed in a scholar-directed Shakespeare Showcase.

Original playwriting is also encouraged and supported through the annual Playwriting Competition, with the winning entry being staged as a lunchtime performance. In 2024, students performed WWII drama The Piano Player written and co-directed by a member of Year 8, and in 2023 the winning playwriting competition production was Jazz Junction, written by a student in Year 9, which was enjoyed by an audience of students, parents and staff, as well as livestreamed to family members who could not attend in person.

Clubs and societies

Junior, Lower and Middle School drama clubs work towards lunchtime performances based on improvisational work explored throughout the year. 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. 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.

Year 11 and Sixth Form students with a keen interest in film, also have the opportunity to join the Abingdon Film Unit, working with professional film and documentary makers to develop their own filmmaking skills.

Extracurricular activities