Extra-Curricular

The Drama Department offers a variety of extra-curricular activities throughout the year.

Theatre Visits

There are various opportunities throughout the year when Standard Grade, Higher and Advanced Higher theatre trips take place. We attempt to arrange trips to performances of various genres, which include straight drama, musical theatre, dance, movement and comedy. These are mainly in theatres in Edinburgh (such as The Playhouse, Lyceum, Traverse, King's and Brunton), but we have travelled to the Citizens in Glasgow and the Roundhouse and West End in London.

View the list of theatre visits for the Autumn Term.

S1 Drama Club

The S1 Drama Club, run by Miss Emma Henderson, is in its second year. The aim of the Club is to give the first year pupils an experience in Drama that they may not necessarily have had before. One group runs from October to Christmas and the other from January to April.

During this time they enjoy a variety of workshops ranging from storytelling to, their favourite, make-up. The pupils get the opportunity to wear costumes and use props (something that is not always feasible during class time). To allow them to do this, both groups work on a separate theme for the final part of the course (Halloween and Horror respectively) and have the chance to utilise all the resources the Department has to offer.

The course ends with a variety of performances directed, acted and filmed by the children. "The most fun part of all, in my opinion, is seeing their faces on the big screen when we come to watch their videos."

London Trip

The Advanced Higher Drama students were taken to London this year to see Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Roundhouse and Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre London.

They watched A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of the performance analysis aspect of the AH course and in preparation for the 'Peter Brook' response in their examination. The trip is an exciting and educational look at theatre and twentieth-century theatre practitioners, which was enjoyed by all.

Greece Trip

The Drama Department's popular trip to Greece is offered annually to S4 pupils who have been studying Drama at Standard Grade level.

During the first week of the summer holidays, we travel to Tolon where pupils participate in specialist run workshops based on Greek theatre and aimed at providing them with a better understanding of "Antigone" and Greek Tragedy which are studied in the Higher Grade syllabus.

Excursions include the ancient theatre at Epidauros, the Acropolis, Napflion, Mycenae and the Corinth canal, while other more "relaxing" activities include water sports, a boat trip, beach BBQ, pool party disco and Greek dance night.

This is a very popular trip, and in order to maintain the quality of the experience for participants, the number of places is restricted.

Easter & Summer Schools

These extra curricular activities are held in the school holidays, within the purpose-built Drama Department, and are open to any child, whether they attend George Watson's or not. For further details, see the Easter & Summer Schools page or call Mr Craig Serrels on 0131 446 6037 or contact drama@gwc.org.uk.