Page 14 - Headingtonian Magazine 2017

THE HEADINGTONIAN 2017
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE AN INTERVIEW WITH
IMOGEN NEALE
DIRECTOR OF DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES
Imogen, you took up your post as Director of Drama & Theatre Studies in September 2016. How’s it going?
Growing up in Oxford, I’ve always been impressed with the reputation Headington has for excellence and so I’m very excited attheageof27tobehereasHeadof Department. We have a brilliant team of
five, two of whom are trained actresses,
with an additional two part-time staff. I’m not a performer myself, my skills lie more in production, directing and the study of drama.
What part does Drama play in the
academic life of the School?
First and foremost, the work we do in drama and theatre studies is led by the curriculum.
At Key Stage 3, girls have one lesson a week throughout the school year. At the end of Upper 4, students make a firm decision whether
they’d like to take Drama and Theatre Studies
as one of their GCSE subjects in Key Stage 4. Over the two years that girls study for their Drama GCSE, performance and written work is equally weighted. They have a scripted exam,
a devised exam which they decide the content of themselves, and a final written exam in the summer. This includes seeing live theatre and writing a review of the performance. After
that, students take Drama at A level or the International Baccalaureate. Because we have such exceptional facilities here, students can specialise in set design, lighting design and costume design as well as performance. We also take students up to London to see live theatre both for enjoyment and as part of their studies. Some of our recent outings have included Much Ado About Nothing, The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Wicked, Matilda and Aladdin.
How else do the performing art involve girls at the School?
Girls can get involved with speech and drama as extra-curricular activities, too. We have two Acting Club sessions each week, girls can volunteer to take part in the School shows we put on, Crew Club involves students in the backstage world of theatre and stage management and we’ve recently started a Wardrobe Club where they can focus on designing and making costume. I’ve also found that girls are very keen to write their own material and direct it.
In what way do girls benefit?
Enjoying drama in all its forms is a very much part of our lives and everything our pupils learn here at Headington will continue to enrich their experience of the performing arts through the years ahead. Getting on stage and performing takes guts and knowing you can do it, and enjoy it, really builds confidence in yourself and your abilities. A background of drama also helps if you find yourself speaking
to a roomful of people you don’t know, or making presentations. It gives you experience working in a group with a range of ages and abilities. But obviously it’s the way in which drama engages a student’s creativity that is really exciting. Writing original pieces is part
of the curriculum and right from the start we encourage girls to approach this with fun and freedom. There’s lots of room for interpretation and there are no wrong answers as such. For example, we might give a class a picture and ask them to devise a simple theatrical piece around it. We help girls learn how to construct a script, and when they hit a wall in the creative process – as we all do – we’re always there to help. I think one of the most valuable things people learn is to take a risk with their creativity – even if it doesn’t work the way you intended! Something new and valuable always come out of the experience!
Do you have any big productions
in the pipeline?
As you know, last year’s big production was the whole-school Centenary Play Sense of Belonging. I thought we’d do things a bit differently this year and, for the first time in about 7 years, we performed a musical. We chose Cole Porter’s Broadway hit Anything Goes because it’s full of fun and packed with great songs. Bringing together music, dance and drama, it’s great to have the opportunity to work with other members of staff as well as the Year 10 to 13 girls. We also have a secret summer show project for the girls
in the Upper 3rd & 4th which is still under wraps. I think it’s going to be another first for Headington... so watch this space!
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Illustration: Abby Ormond