At Pennthorpe the Performing Arts are for everybody!

The Performing Arts play a key role in the development of every child at Pennthorpe. From the age of five classes are taught weekly as part of the curriculum by a specialist focussing on encouraging children to express themselves confidently and boldly through speech and movement. Our activities are designed to inspire and excite the imagination. Whether they are shy and naturally quiet, or already exuberant and bursting with confidence, we aim to bring out the very best in every child.

Drama helps children to improve communication and social skills, to develop self expression and creativity and work as part of a team. It helps them to better understand themselves and the world in which they live and to grow in confidence through performance. Furthermore the Performing Arts are used to enrich the school's broader curriculum through cross curricular topics on ancient civilisations, set texts, plays and musicals.

Pennthorpe has its own dedicated drama studio and enjoys the use of a sports hall which doubles as a theatre with its own portable staging, tiered seating and sophisticated lighting and sound facilities. Recent productions have included Oliver, Grease, The Canterbury Tales and Hero? an interactive musical produced completely in house and performed to huge acclaim. Our Year 7 pupils also take part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival and have recently performed A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Taming of the Shrew at various venues across the South. From a young age we aim to give all pupils a chance to perform and from 2009 all year groups will be given a chance to perform in a wide variety of seasonal shows and talent showcases.

On top of all this, the Performing Arts at Pennthorpe are enriched by LAMDA lessons, after school drama clubs, musical theatre groups and ballet and dance activities.  It's little surprise then that so many drama, dance and music scholarships have been achieved to a variety of senior schools!