Support Drama

Will you Play Your Part and join us in celebrating Drama and Theatre Studies at St Catherine’s?

Do you remember your own adventures in theatre at school, university or beyond? Do you relish the opportunity to escape into the world of a good play or film?

This is your chance to share with us the stories, plays and films which resonate with you. Are you inspired by Shakespeare's powerful women? Thrilled by the tension in film and stage versions of Lord of the Flies ? Moved by Tony Kusher's Angels in America? This is your chance to share with the girls the dramatic productions that have stayed with you long after the curtain fell or the cinema emptied. 

We will recognise your support of Play Your Part with a  poster on The Backdrop, displayed outside the new drama studio, which will share with the School community your passion for theatre. 

When you make a gift of  £250 to Play your Part you will be supporting the future of Theatre Studies and Drama at St Catherine's. We will ask you to propose a play which has particular significance to you or to your family.

As a generous supporter of the campaign you will be recognised on The Backdrop in the form of a poster featuring an image from your chosen production. Should you choose to, you can share a quote from the play which you find inspiring or thought-provoking . Mrs Grizzelle-Lang's choice is A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams from which she suggests as inspiration, "I don't want realism. I want magic" ; while Ms Wittert van Hoogland recognises the personal significance of her first production as a teacher at St Catherine's  by choosing "We are such stuff as dreams are made of" from Shakespeare's The Tempest.

You may chose to be recognised by name or to remain anonymous but importantly the texts which have inspired you will go on to inspire generations of girls to come. 

The role of Drama and Theatre Studies in the wider curriculum

Drama is an important part of the curriculum from PPI, all the way through to Sixth Form. It is used as a learning tool across the curriculum in all subjects, as an exploratory strategy to investigate concepts and to understand how others think and behave. At all ages, drama is a powerful tool to encourage the girls’ creativity, language skills, motor skills, and capacity for play. From Year 3 the girls have specialist Drama lessons and this continues into the Senior School, as a way of enriching the core curriculum. In Pre Prep, as well as Prep and Senior Schools, the girls share distinct moments of performance - not only as part of a 'company' but with their families as audience. 

Confidence, performance, presentation, collaborative working and creative thinking all spring from their lessons and transfer to all areas of their life in School. Our talented team of Drama and Theatre Studies teachers harness the girls' enthusiasm and deliver academic rigour to an increasing number of girls who chose to study the subject at GCSE and A Level. They would like your help to inspire girls in the new Drama Studio!