Supporting Talented Technicians and Designers In Drama

This case study describes how pupils who are talented in the technical and design areas of Drama, for example lighting and set design, are identified and supported. The experience of one particular student has been used to illustrate a broader programme of provision at a Comprehensive school with Specialist Arts Status.

Identification

The Drama Department currently uses the Guidance materials for the Creative Generation website. These have proved invaluable in identifying exactly what Gifted and Talented means in Drama.

Christopher was first identified through his involvement in extra-curricular Drama. He was notable for his self-directedness and his inquisitiveness. Having taken part in a school production in which he felt, in his words, he was “Okay”, he became more interested in the technical side, particularly lighting. His potential here were far superior to that he had shown as a performer and he worked alongside a senior student, who had shown characteristics himself of being talented. This ‘peer mentoring’ has proved an effective way of stretching the most able and bringing on new talent. As with many other students showing talent in the technical areas of Drama, Christopher exhibited the characteristics of high self-motivation, a propensity for reflection and self-evaluation and extended concentration and commitment.

Description

Using Specialist Arts Status funding, the school appointed a part time Drama technician who brought specialist skills to the department, namely in the field of set construction and stage management. To further support students such as Christopher, the Head of Department established contact with an experienced professional stage lighting operator, who was bought in on an hourly basis, as and when needed. Not only did this ensure the students were trained to use the lights safely, it further developed their knowledge and understanding, supporting their ability to design, organise and manage the technical elements successfully. Furthermore, via contact with both technicians, a wealth of other opportunities were opened up enabling Christopher to gain experience at local theatre venues. Shadowing experienced technicians and having the opportunity to assist running the lighting board on shows such as ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ and an amateur production of ‘Les Miserables’ at The Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell were of considerable value.

Christopher was also supported through a member of the Drama Department who had attended Drama school himself and had previously been a member of The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. This teacher had been running a support programme for talented performers for some time but it was extended to include support for talented technicians in the form of mock interviews and assistance when first drama school.  The member of staff also used his connections in the theatre to arrange work experience for Christopher at a West End show at the Aldwych.

Throughout this time, Christopher continued to be supported by the Head of Department and successfully lit four main school productions and completed two highly successful Lighting Options for his AS and A2 examinations.

In 2005, he successfully auditioned for a place in The Youth Music Theatre of Great Britain. Having accepted his place, he subsequently had to turn down an offer of a place at The National Youth Theatre. He has been asked to light ‘Frankenstein’ for The Youth Music Theatre in 2007 in the studio theatre of the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Christopher is currently studying for a B.A. in Theatre Lighting at Rose Bruford College, following his successful application in 2006.

Evaluation

Supporting students in this way, by drawing on the skills, time and expertise of a number of different practitioners and teachers, coupled with the opportunities that Specialist Arts funding can bring has been proven to be successful. Christopher is only one of many students from the school currently studying at Drama institutions, ranging from Bristol Old Vic to The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.