While Westminster has a reputation for academic excellence, that tells only half of the story. A Westminster education is so much more. Drama, in particular, has a firm place in the curriculum throughout the school and involves the teaching of a wide variety of key drama skills: from simpler lessons in the early years, looking at short skits, freeze-frames, role-playing and performances that involve dance and music, to learning in the later years about Surrealism, slapstick comedy, mime, the creation of dramatic tension and the art of improvisation.

There are three Drama productions each year, with the junior, middle and senior parts of the school all selecting age-appropriate productions that involve a large number of boys, in addition to our yearly Latin play competition. Recent school productions have included The Three Musketeers, An Enemy of the People, Lord of the Flies, James and The Giant Peach, The Water Babies, Three Little Pigs and Julius Caesar.

Drama has been shown to have a hugely positive impact on our pupils’ confidence, self-expression and creative thinking, so all boys are encouraged to take a turn under the bright lights of the stage. However, they can also exercise their abilities behind the scenes, helping with sound and lighting, scenery painting and programme design.

Pupils also have the opportunity to widen their theatrical knowledge and to observe, enjoy and learn from gifted professionals, as our location puts us within walking distance of more than forty venues in London’s West End theatre district and our Drama staff love to organise regular trips for the boys.