Drama

The Drama Department

  • Annual Joint Musical or Drama Production with HBHS
  • Theatre Sports
  • Sheilah Winn Shakespeare in Schools Competition
  • Fusion Festival
  • Smokefree Stage Challenge
  • Concert, Lip Sync or Talent Quest organised by Senior Students

All of these activities are open to students from Year 9-13.  Performance opportunities are available every year for actors, dancers and singers.

Hamilton Girl's High School has a large and vital Drama course as a full year option subject from Year 10 - Year 13, and a wide range of extra curricular activities.

Full Year Drama Courses

Year 10            Internally Assessed
Year 11            Level 1 NCEA
Year 12            Level 3 NCEA
Year 13            Level 3 NCEA

Drama programmes at each level are based on the National Drama Prescription as defined in the New Zealand Arts Curriculum, and are all NZQA approved.

Each course involves two thirds practical work, and one third theory and history of theatre.

A special feature of our Drama programmes are the Class Drama Performances.  Every class at every level gives a fully costumed evening public performance of a play, complete with lights, scenery, music, and makeup.  Some of our class performances have included:

  • A Midsummer Nights Dream
  • King Lear
  • The Tempest
  • The Importance of Being Earnest
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
  • A Dolls House
  • Cage Birds
  • The Happiest of the Three
  • Daughters of Heaven
  • An Inspector Calls
  • None the wiser

In Drama We Study

  • Improvisation
  • Children's Theatre
  • Movement
  • Voice Production
  • Mime
  • Plays
  • History of Theatre
  • Costume
  • Makeup
  • Mask Making and Using Lighting
Students Comments

"Drama is really great, especially when we do the end of year plays"

"Drama gives you the opportunity to show others your potential and you learn as well as having fun at the same time"

"Drama lightens up my day"

"It's excellent fun, and helps build your confidence.  It especially helped me get over my stage fright for the Greek play we did this year"

"I enjoyed experiencing all sorts of drama like Shakespeare in Year 10 and the children's play in Year 12.  I still get little children who point me out and say "you're the butterfly.  Its heaps of fun"

"You learn so much about yourself and others.  You build confidence and believe in yourself even more"