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The Début Drama Curriculum encompasses all elements of acting skills sometimes in isolation, other times combined in order to prepare students to perform (if they wish) on stage, in film and television or radio. Skills are taught through fun-based activities which allow all students to work at their own level, develop self confidence and greater self esteem, working in collaboration with others. Our curriculum enhances the Government's School National Curriculum, particularly the speaking and listening strand of English and, by way of script reading and extending imagination through improvisation, enables students to improve their own attainment in the reading and writing elements of English.

The main elements of the drama curriculum are:
  • Characterisation and exploration of feelings
  • Empathy
  • Adapting physical appearance and using body language
  • Voice control and projection
  • Visual and oral projection
These are taught through a variety of teaching methods, including:
  • Script reading and preparation
  • Improvisation
  • Mime
  • Memory technique
  • Audition technique
  • Small scale productions
  • Self and peer appraisal
Students cover a wide range of texts (appropriate to their age group and level of understanding) encompassing classical, modern, experimental and musical. Activities are carefully planned around these to ensure that each student is challenged, working at just the right ability level and, more importantly, having fun!
Teacher Biographies

David Kirk - For David's biography, please see the Principals page.

Matt Driver

Matt is a freelance actor and drama coach, specialising in working in schools promoting young people to go onto further education.

Matt trained at Huddersfield University where he gained a B.A. (Hons) degree in Drama.

He has been lucky enough to have also received training from such established actors as Richard Wilson, Patrick Stewart, Prunella Scales and Alan Ayckbourn.

Angelo Clarke

Angelo has been involved in theatre in and around West Yorkshire for 20 years. He started with The Bradford Youth Players in 1984 and still occasionally is involved on and off stage with them. Musical Theatre is what Angelo enjoys the most and has played roles as diverse as The Major General in The Broadway version of Pirates to Captain Ahab in Moby Dick!

During his acting career he has performed with many local societies in the region - Keighley Little Theatre, Bingley Amateur Operatic Society, Barnstormers Theatre Company and most recently The Bradford Catholic Players taking on the role of Moon Face Martin in their production of Anything Goes at The Bradford Alhambra.

Angelo has always felt he had something to offer in the way of teaching and is delighted to be able to pass on his knowledge to young performers. In March 2004 he coached his Début students in drama for the Robertshaw Festival and received first prize for the Senior Improvisation Class.
Class Times
Leeds School
Drama - Saturday
Intermediate 9.30am - 10.30am
Senior 10.30am - 11.30am
Junior 11.30am - 12.30pm
Bradford School
Drama - Tuesday
Junior/Intermediate 6pm - 7pm
Seniors (B) 6pm - 7pm
Seniors (A) 7pm - 8pm
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