Why Do Drama?
We believe that Drama significantly helps young people to develop as mature, confident and well rounded adults. Their self esteem grows, they become less insular, more outward looking, and they feel empowered to do more.
About Us
The Drama School moved into new premises in Exeter in September 2014, after many years based in Ashburton.
Courses
Courses leading to examinations are open to everyone – from aged five to adult – from Preliminary Grades to Advanced Level. Subjects include Acting, Shakespeare Acting, Improvisation, Mime, Public Speaking, Singing, Piano and Musical Theatre.
Achievements
Welcome to The Drama School Exeter Ltd
We offer Drama Classes and Theatre Training at our premises in the heart of Exeter. Our professional, friendly, encouraging and qualified staff, who have a wealth of experience and success, offer a range of courses that lead to recognised qualifications.
Contact us directly
Emily Whittet
Whatsapp: 07379 315982 Email: emilywhittet@yahoo.com
Meryl Duff
Whatsapp: 07946 478931 Email: merylduff@yahoo.co.uk
Overview
Acting Groups and Companies
We have Acting Groups and Companies for all ages. Students can join the most appropriate one for their age. Details below. The Groups form Acting Companies and may take their plays to theatres and venues around the area or just perform in our home theatre spaces.
Some of our Companies enter The All England Theatre Festivals where they present a one Act Play under professional conditions gaining an exciting taste of real theatre! We have won numerous awards each year. Whichever Company you join, you will learn acting skills and be given opportunities to perform.
Training
Our training always starts with the students getting to know each other, building trust in one another and gaining enough confidence to be able to suggest and experiment with creative ideas. Mutual respect for all members of the group is established and fostered. Drama Games are key to this process, so that students are having fun and also building skills without realising! Games will include word, memory, listening, physical and observation activities which all serve to teach and hone vital performance skills. Voice work, mime and stage techniques are included. Improvisation is gradually introduced. Students are encouraged to create back stories and situations for their invented or given characters, so that they explore lots of possibilities and avoid superficiality. This becomes more advanced as the students learn and progress. Script work is added so students can experiment with characters, subtext and staging. When students are ready to do a play or a themed performance, much emphasis is placed on fully involving them in the creative process through discussion of the play and the characters and experimenting with ideas.
They will also contribute and debate concepts, costume and design ideas as well as suggestions for sound effects and music. As the students engage with this style of in-depth teaching they learn wide-ranging acting skills and performance techniques and so form solid foundations which carry them successfully on to the higher levels. We aim to demonstrate, through this thorough method, that hard work, through the rehearsal process, results in excellence. Students realise that the excitement and satisfaction derived from their success comes from their own hard work, which has resulted in extraordinary achievement! Our students gain many transferrable skills, gain confidence and make good friends! Our philosophy of inclusion and respect for everyone cements the trust and friendships and enables everyone to feel that they are valued member of the group. Many of our students have gone on to full time Drama Schools and acting careers, although many others just have enormous fun, but everyone gains insights into the lives and stories of people very different from themselves which they take with them throughout their lives.
All this whilst having fun!
Age Groups
5 – 7 yrs 8 –10 yrs 11 – 13 yrs 14 + Adults
Our online Drama School is here
If you can’t get to Exeter for our in-person classes, look at the exciting Online Master Classes and Courses run by our
Founder Meryl Duff.
We offer a wide range of options including Audition Preparation, Acting, Shakespeare, Directing, Verse & Prose,
Public Speaking and Examination Courses.
For Students 16+ and Adults on Zoom. To find out more, follow the link to The Drama School UK
–Online to see what we offer and then arrange to talk to Meryl for further information.
‘Meryl was my drama teacher during and just after my GCSE years at school, and her classes really played an important part in my life. They helped me, as a shy teenager, come out of my shell and express myself through performing on stage, and increase my general confidence as a result. They also furthered my interest in the performing arts – which in turn helped lead me to pursue a career in filmmaking, albeit on the other side of the camera! In my present work as a cinematographer, which involves close interaction and collaboration with actors, I feel that the experience I had of Meryl’s drama classes and plays has helped me a great deal. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of drama with Meryl – above all it was always really fun. I have especially fond memories of hilarious improvisation sessions during the classes! The atmosphere was always really friendly, supportive and encouraging, and Meryl was sensitive to the needs of each pupil. I can’t recommend her drama classes enough!’
Robin Whenary, Patron
www.robinwhenary.com