Theatre Arts at The Hammond

Due to the ongoing set of circumstances we find ourselves in, we have moved the audition process for The Hammond's Theatre Arts courses online! Theatre Arts focuses on the disciplines of Drama and Music and are available at varying levels for students aged 11 - 19:⁣ Foundation / Ages 11 - 13⁣, Specialised (Acting or Music Performance) / Ages 14 - 16 ⁣and Advanced / Ages 16 - 19⁣. We'd like to take the opportunity to thank Mrs Lyon and Miss Charles for making this online process happen so that students wishing to join us in September don't miss out on their chance. There's more info about the course below, so if you know any budding actors or musicians, send them our way!

The Hammond's Lower School Theatre Arts course, runs alongside the school's excellent academic curriculum, gives our youngest pupils the strongest possible foundation in the core disciplines of performance.

Delivered by teaching artists, experienced facilitators and industry professionals, the Theatre Arts course will help to develop young people into dynamic, adaptable and talented performers who are well equipped with the skills to thrive in our rapidly evolving world.

Theatre Arts training demands teamwork. Confidence. Creativity. Improvisation. Flexibility. Collaboration. Compromise. Integrity. Imagination. At The Hammond, we don’t underestimate the value of these skills to our students’ futures whether they end up on stage or in a thousand other careers that value them too.

THE COURSE

Students in Years 7-9 will follow a dynamic and engaging curriculum that provides combined, expert training in; drama, music, stage movement and physicality.

DRAMA

The Drama curriculum strives to develop students’ skills in confidence, communication and fundamental acting techniques. Classes in voice and speech, acting scripted plays, theatre ensemble, devising drama, improvisation and storytelling form the foundation of the drama training on the Theatre Arts course.

MUSIC

Through a balanced programme of activities and experiences The Hammond's exciting and varied Music training will extend students' understanding and appreciation of music, alongside the development of a professional approach to performance.

Classes in: Composition, music theory, solo and ensemble performance combined with a technology and industry-based approach using The Hammond's recording studio state-of-the-art software.

STAGE MOVEMENT AND PHYSICALITY

All performers must have a strong sense of physicality which comes from the ability to move freely with confidence and conviction.

This element of the Theatre Arts program will equip students with necessary and fundamental skills in ensemble movement, foundation dance technique, body conditioning – including core and breath work, and physical theatre techniques.

Whilst continuing their training in all areas of performance, students in Years 10-11 are given the opportunity to specialise in one specific area of performance, allowing them to further hone their craft in preparation for further study and training on one of our Post-16 performance courses.

ACTING

The acting curriculum is Stanislavski-based with core training in acting technique complimented by classes and workshops in voice and diction, scene study, modern theatre and practitioner study.

Acting students can expect to study acting for the camera, physical theatre, Shakespeare and musical theatre performance as a part of their training on the Theatre Arts - Acting track.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

The Theatre Arts - Music Performance track encourages students to begin developing themselves as artists and performers.

Building on the core skills gained in Years 7 - 9, the program gives students the opportunity to explore in more detail a variety of musical genres and styles from both a theoretical and practical perspective.

Collaboration, practical musicianship and performance is at the heart of the Music Performance curriculum with students being encouraged to share their talents through the multiple performance opportunities built into the course.

---

ACTING

MUSIC PERFORMANCE