‘Drama teaches students to push their own boundaries’
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Tracy Jayasinghe is an actor and teacher. She has qualifications in theatre from The University of Tasmania and LAMDA, UK. She has been teaching the IGCSE Drama course at Elizabeth Moir School, for the past 3 years.
A: Drama enhances students’ artistic and creative abilities and gives them a better understanding of themselves and their world. It prompts self-reflection, enabling them to grow as empathetic individuals.
Drama develops verbal and non- verbal skills such as articulation, projection and body language. Students develop the ability to communicate, both individually and as part of a group, as well as imagination, confidence, teamwork, time management, adaptability, respect for others and problem-solving skills. These are invaluable no matter what career path students intend to take.
When students think of drama there is a tendency to think of it being ‘just a good time’ with not a lot of effort required on their part but this is certainly not the case. Drama, like any other art form, is a skill to be developed – it requires focus, study, and dedication. What makes the subject unique is that students get to see the result of their work, and experience a sense of accomplishment in a more hands on way than other subjects in the curriculum may offer.
At the core of it, I believe drama teaches students to push their own boundaries – to try something even if it is scary and uncomfortable at first – to realize that choosing to try was all they needed to do to grow.
Q : Why do students enjoy IGCSE Drama?
A: A main appeal of Drama is that lessons are very different to those in any other subject – students are not just sitting still and writing notes. There are written components, of course, but the performance aspect is what is vital and makes lessons fun. Those who pick Drama as a subject must enjoy creating and be willing to perform. There is a lot of emphasis on stepping up, sharing views and being considerate of fellow performers.
Q : What career paths can students who have IGCSE Drama under their belts pursue?
A: It is easy to draw a line between a subject like Drama and careers in Advertising, Public Relations, Event Management, Film, Social Media or the Performing Arts that are increasingly important in the modern world. Drama teaches students how to create original and entertaining content, and how to tell a story. I also find, though, that it is tremendously beneficial for those pursuing careers in Maths or the Sciences. For example, students have told me that Drama has helped improve their reaction time in subjects like Maths!
A: Students say that Drama provides a comforting, safe space that everyone in the class looks forward to. It is wonderful to see them gaining confidence, moving from awkward and unsure, to enthusiastic and assured. It is a pleasure to provide the space and skills students need to find and develop their creativity, and to watch their passion for acting and writing grow. The entire process is incredibly special to me.
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