Drama at Ashbourne has grown into one of the college’s most successful and exciting departments with students not only achieving excellent A level results but also winning awards.
Ashbourne’s A level Drama & Theatre Studies students scooped three awards in the ISA Drama Festival (2019): Hurst Lodge Award for best senior production, Margaret Milner-Williams Medal for best senior boy performer and the Hollygirt Prize for best moment of theatre in senior production. The competition included around 500 independent and specialist performing arts schools from across the country.
Daniel Kedge, who has directed many of his own productions including at Edinburgh Festival and who has been teaching theatre for many years, leads the A level Drama & Theatre Studies course at Ashbourne. Students follow the AQA syllabus which offers a good balance between physical performance and written theory.
Life of a Drama student at Ashbourne
Ashbourne aims to open new vistas both in practical terms and in theoretical appreciation, covering a broad spectrum from ancient Greek Tragedy to Harold Pinter.
A unique feature of studying A level Drama & Theatre Studies at Ashbourne is that students will see up to 15 productions in a single year at some of London’s outstanding theatre venues. They also have plenty of opportunities to perform including at Ashbourne’s thriving drama club and at the very popular annual showcase event, the Ashbourne Revue.
The Ashbourne Revue
The Ashbourne Revue is a very popular annual event showcasing students’ talents in drama, dance, music and fashion, and has been running for many years. It provides an excellent opportunity for Drama students to put their creative skills to the test and work alongside other departments in producing an entertaining and memorable night.
A level Drama & Theatre Studies scholarships
Auditions for Drama scholarships take place in January. Prospective students are asked to perform a short monologue in front of a panel including Ashbourne’s Drama tutors and the Director of Studies. Find out more about scholarships.