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Drama takes centre-stage at Downside.
All pupils are expected to involve themselves in drama, whether on or behind the stage. The School aims to hold a junior school play, a middle school play, a whole school play and/or musical, and six House Plays during each academic year. Individual Houses provide a ‘House at Home’ which consists of an afternoon of drama and music organised by the pupils themselves. Drama also give pupils the opportunity to work backstage with sound, lighting and stage management. Pupils are also encouraged to write and direct their own work and have taken productions to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Touring companies with productions that support the curriculum regularly perform in the School Theatre.
Drama lessons are included in the lower school curriculum and specialist teaching is available for those taking the LAMDA examinations.
Recent school drama productions have included Absent Friends, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Brave New World, Dr Faustus, Macbeth, Peter Pan and Unman, Wittering and Zigo.
School musical productions in recent years have included Anything Goes, Crazy for You, Grease, Guys and Dolls, High Society, Oliver!, The Boyfriend and The Sound of Music.
Downside has a purpose-built 600 raked-seat theatre.
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