Theatrical Flair

The Drama department thrives off extra-curricular involvement at Barton Court.  The 2025/26 academic year offers many extra-curriculuar opportunities for students for all year

Year 7-9 Drama Club runs at lunch time once a week. Each term the students partake in various performance projects including Pantomime, the Mystery of Deerhurst Manor, Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations and A Midsummer’s Night Dream. This Club is designed to inspire those who are theatrically minded and encourage those who would like to build their confidence and team working skills

The drama department also offers LAMDA acting exams. These graded exams are accredited by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, one of the country’s leading drama schools. Students are given the opportunity to develop more advanced acting skills including stagecraft, detailed characterisation and study of theatre practitioners. This course culminates in students sitting performance exams once they are prepared and the preparation sessions take place on Tuesday after school for 1 hour for Term 1-4.

We hold an Annual School Musical at Barton Court in conjunction with the Music Department. Rehearsals for this take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school. This is a great opportunity for KS3-KS5 pupils to mix and become part of a musical ensemble. In previous years, pupils have performed; The Addams Family Musical, Grease, Guys and Dolls and We Will Rock You.

New for 2023/24 will be National Theatre New Views script writing competition. Students in KS4 and KS5 are given the opportunity to write their own 30-minute play. One play from all the entries around the country will be selected and have staged reading at the National Theatre in London. In school, one play with also be selected to have a staged reading in the school hall. As part of this opportunity, students will also experience workshops with professional playwrights as they craft their own work for submission in March.