Drama
The Drama department allows pupils to explore their interests in all aspects of academic and practical drama- not only in performance (acting and dance) but also in production arts (lighting, sound and stage management). Drama is taught from P5 upwards and there is a wealth of extra curricular opportunities and theatre visits on offer.
Drama: Staffing
Mrs Julia Douglas (Head of Department)
Mrs Douglas was the prime mover in the establishment of Heriot's Drama Dept seven years ago. She is a graduate of RSAMD and the University of Glasgow where she studied Theatre, Film and Television. She has introduced curricular drama up to Advanced Higher - she is an AH examiner - and has taken charge of numerous extra-curricular projects including productions of ‘Oliver Twist', ‘The Three Estaites' ‘The Tempest' and ‘A Year and A Day', part of the National Theatre Connections competition, which won its way to the National Theatre in London in 2007.
Ms Kelda Henderson
Ms Henderson has a degree in Contemporary Theatre Practice from RSAMD and has been at Heriot's for four years. She has had an active involvement in many areas of School Drama, including the organisation of the highly successful annual House Drama competition and our annual Drama Festival.
Ms Lis Mackie
Madame Mackie also teaches in Modern Languages, but is a highly experienced and successful teacher of Dance and Drama, running the School Choreography group; she is the first teacher in Scotland to gain Professional Recognition in Dance and Drama from the General Teaching council as a mark of her long service in teaching in this area.
Mr Michael Osborne
(Production Manager/Theatre Technician)
Mr Osborne has a degree in Stage Management & Theatre Production from Queen Margaret University College. Before joining Heriot's he worked as a freelance within the Scottish theatre, film and events industries. He will now be working on all the drama productions throughout Junior and Senior School and is looking forward to the challenges these will bring.
Drama : Curriculum
S1
In S1 pupils learn the basics of stagecraft and characterisation and explore their uses in mime, devised drama and script work. Effective group work and communication skills are central to the Drama process and pupils are encouraged to contribute positively at all times.
S2
In S2 we use devised drama to create scenes and to explore the uses of drama form and structure to enhance presentation. Pupils learn about staging and use of space, and also about using voice, language and movement to create and develop a believable role. In experimenting with drama and theatre skills pupils are encouraged to work effectively and cooperatively with others in a group situation.
S3 and S4 Standard Grade Drama
The Standard Grade Drama course aims to provide opportunities for all pupils to explore and use language, movement and theatre as a means of expression and communication. Group work is an essential part of drama. Through consistently working in groups of various sizes with different people in a range of activities, pupils learn and use skills such as contributing, co-operating and compromising, which will be valuable whenever they have to communicate and work with others.
S5
Higher Drama promotes candidates' knowledge and understanding of theatre. The course focuses on the skills of acting, directing and investigating in a variety of dramatic contexts. The course is divided into 3 units: Investigative Drama, The Study of a Set Text in its Theatrical Context and Contemporary Scottish Theatre
S6
The Advanced Higher course consists of three units: Devised Drama, Twentieth-Century Theatre: Theories of Performance and a Special Study, which allows candidates to specialise in a practical aspect of theatre. The options are acting, directing and design. Candidates will use skills of research and investigation and extend their skills of textual analysis to arrive at performance concepts for a prescribed text within their chosen option.