Drama

I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. Oscar Wilde

The philosophy of the drama department is inclusivity.  Every student at Wellington should have the opportunity to participate in any type of performance that interest them, whether that be as an actor, dancer, director, writer or technician.  Access to the arts is at the heart of what we do, encouraging students to have a lifelong love of drama and performance.

An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so must be willing to accept all the experiences life has to offer. In fact, he must seek out more of life than life puts at his feet.  James Dean

Performing Arts are at the heart of the philosophy of Wellington College. Over a third of the students at Wellington participate in drama as either a curricular or extra curricular activity.  The drama and Dance departments at Wellington College work together to create an exciting programme of events for our students, feeder schools and local community.  We aim to put on one major production every half term, including musicals, straight drama, dance shows, panto, talent shows and student directed and devised work.  All these events are open to the public and can be ordered via our box office system.

In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator  Jean Cocteau

The drama department has strong links with local schools and one of our regular link projects is Curtain Call Youth Theatre, offering performing arts workshops for local children aged 10 – 14.  Classes run on Saturday lunchtimes and offer two hours of drama, singing and dance for a very reasonable £175 per full term.  Students get the opportunity to perform in their own showcase and the Wellington Panto.  Contact Sarah Spencer for details.

As an actor you become that lighting rod between the person who made the play and the audience  Christopher Walken

Teaching Staff:

Director of Drama and Head of Academic Drama:  Sarah Spencer
Sarah has been Director of Drama at Wellington College since 2006, having spent 6 years as Head of Drama at St Thomas More RC School in North London.  Sarah is an Advanced Skills teacher and was the first drama teacher in London to gain this award.  Sarah was creative director of Haringey Shed Inclusive Theatre Company and also ran her own youth Theatre group Still Ahead.  Sarah was nominated for teacher of the year in 2005/6 as recognition for her classroom practice and Outreach work

Assistant Director of Drama:  Hugh Macgregor
Hugh Macgregor trained at the Oxford School of Drama and worked as an actor prior to his teaching post at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire.  He served as Head of Theatre Studies and Assistant Housemaster at Bearwood College for three years before joining Wellington in 2009.  He tutors the Blücher Lower 6th and coaches Hockey and Cricket.

Head of LAMDA:  Katie Hamilton
LAMDA has grown into a popular and thriving area of the drama department under the guidance of Katie Hamilton.  Katie is an highly experienced drama teacher who has worked at Wellington for a number of years.  Katie also acts and directs with many high profile community theatre companies.

Lighting and Events :   Visions
Lighting is provided by event design company Visions, who have provided technical support at many of Britain’s top venues including the O2 arena and the Barbican, working with many big name artists.  Visions are very happy to be working in partnership with Wellington and look forward to a long and ongoing relationship.

Theatre Manager:  Dan Clements  Dan joins us at Wellington from his positon in Theatre Management at the English National Opera.  As well as overseeing the management of the theatre, Dan is also producer for all large scale shows here at Wellington, including the Royal Albert Hall gala and the Round Square International Conference

Teacher of Drama:  Rose Hall Smith
Rose joins the department as a teacher of drama having completed her MA in Theatre in Performance at the Central School of Speech and Drama.  Rose is also an accomplished musician and runs the programme of primary school outreach here at Wellington.  Contact Rose if you know a local primary school who would like a performing arts session.

The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.   Sir Laurence Olivier

 We have an archive of a number of our past productions 2008 - onwards.  Do get in touch if you would like to order any of these:

Drama Scholarships:

Drama scholarships are available for new students entering the third form and the lower sixth form.  Students will be expected to prepare a monologue from a play post 1950, learned by heart to be performed to an assessor.  Students will also participate in a short group exercise to assess their improvisation skills.  Students should also bring a portfolio of their drama achievements for assessors to look it.  This can take the form of photos, programmes, essays and should demonstrate an excellent commitment to the arts.  Successful candidates will be expected to take drama and theatre studies at GCSE, MYP and A Level if given a scholarship and must also commit to joining in with the wider extra curricular life of the department.

If you require more information please contact the admissions office at Wellington College.