Drama

The 300 seat Layard Theatre is home to the busy Drama Department, which currently has around sixty pupils studying Drama and Theatre Arts at GCSE and A Level.  The theatre is a dynamic space - an exciting environment in which to study and explore both practically and academically. It is a hub for creativity.

Co-Curricular 

Drama at Canford continues to grow and inspire, providing opportunities for students of all ages to explore performance, design and directing. Students enjoy a rich calendar of productions, a range of co-curricular activities, and benefit from a programme of visiting theatre professionals. There are also regular opportunities to collaborate with the local community - whether through outreach projects, shared performances, or partnerships with nearby arts organisations. The department is vibrant, imaginative, and committed to nurturing every student's creative ambitions. 

School Productions 

A wide-ranging programme of school productions enables all students to get involved with the theatrical life of the school, whether on stage or behind the scenes.  Last year’s whole school musical, Just So by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, brought Rudyard Kipling’s whimsical tales to life through months of dedicated rehearsal. Featuring a cast of 35 pupils and a live orchestra, the production celebrated the power of storytelling with colourful characters and imaginative staging. This year we are exploring a diverse range of theatrical styles and voices, with a season featuring The Addams Family by Andrew Lippa, Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo, The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow and The Terrible Infants by Oliver Lansley. Directed by the drama department, these productions aim to demonstrate the outstanding range of talent at Canford. 

A large number of pupils participate in the Spring and Summer Productions, exploring contemporary and classical texts to create exciting work for a live theatre audience. Alongside nurturing and developing performance skills, these productions also offer the chance for those interested in design and stage management to work in collaboration with our technical theatre manager, performing arts technicians, choreographer and wardrobe supervisor to visually create the production. 

An array of studio productions takes place each year, directed by students. 
The focus on directing begins in Shells (Year 9), where pupils start to explore theatre production as part of their academic studies. After selecting short excerpts from plays or writing their own original works, pupils direct their pieces for performance - with recent choices including Road and The Frost Report. 

Enrichment Programmes 

We regularly welcome a range of visiting speakers into school for talks and workshops, broadening pupils’ perspectives and offering insight into careers in drama and theatre. Trips and visits encourage pupils to experience the UK’s vibrant theatre scene. As well as enriching the studies of those taking drama, all pupils can participate in the department's initiative, Friday Foyer - a monthly pop-up performance evening held in the theatre foyer. Open to all, it offers a relaxed and supportive space where students can showcase monologues, short scenes or songs they’ve been working on, or simply come along to enjoy the performances with refreshments and friends.