Dolphin School’s Drama Scholarship

The standard of drama rises each year at Dolphin, and consequently I believe it is important that from time to time I revise the internal scholarship requirements.

I want to recognise an individual’s strengths in all aspects of the subject, not merely the excellent performer. I will also be taking into consideration your contribution during drama lessons and productions.

Read carefully below, and decide how you would like to approach this scholarship.

You must select at least 3 of the following options from any category, but it is advisable to have a variety:

Performance:

1. Choose a speech from any Shakespeare play. It should be at least 10 lines long. Learn it thoroughly.

2. Select a piece of music. Devise a short mimed piece of approximately 2 minutes. At a certain point during your mime something goes horribly wrong. I am particularly interested in your movement.

3. Take a traditional fairy story or nursery rhyme and perform it using only puppets. You do not have to make the puppets, but clearly I will be very impressed if you do! Your puppet show should last no longer than 3 minutes.

You will be asked to perform any of the above in front of a small audience and myself.

Set Design:

1. Choose a play you know well. Read it again. Imagine you are the set designer for the next production to be staged at Dolphin School. Decide on the staging of the production, then do a series of at least 3 drawings showing three different scenes and their sets in the play with brief explanations. It would be an advantage if you made a model set, but this is not essential.

Script- writing:

1. Write a short script on any subject you like. There should be no more than 5 characters, and it should last no more than 5 minutes. I am particularly interested in your character development. There will be a rehearsed reading of your script in front of a small audience and myself.

Make-up and Costume Design:

1. Choose a contemporary play that you know and like. Select 5 of the characters from this play and design either the costume for each character or their make-up. You can do both but this is not essential. Do your designs on large A3 paper. You can simply draw them or use a variety of media, ranging from paint to collage. Make sure that there is a brief explanation with each character.

Direction:

1. Select a short play or a scene from a longer play with no more than 5 characters. Cast your piece using your peers. Decide on your staging, then rehearse your actors. It is preferable that your actors learn their lines but not essential. I am particularly interested in your interpretation of the piece. Your company of actors will be asked to perform in front of a small audience and myself.

Please write me a brief letter, stating which 3 options you have selected before the end of this term.

Assessment will begin after half term in the summer term.

Good luck!