Theater Director/English Teacher

Responsible to: Performing Arts Department Chair/English Department Chair

Theater studies are taught to students in both the Middle and High schools as part of their curriculum in-class lessons where they learn to appreciate a wide range of dramatic styles from classical to contemporary.

The Department works very closely with various other departments within the school to produce a number of annual productions. These range from presentation assemblies, drama workshops, the Fall Play, Christmas celebrations, the Spring Musical through to the end of the year Arts Festival. Over recent years the Performing Arts Team has produced collaborative productions involving a high level of participation, blending music, dance, and theater.

The Department is housed in the School’s Theater, The Palmer Cultural Center, which comprises a large performance space and a Drama teaching room, with adjacent dedicated office space. The Department is well resourced with a wide range of set pieces and props, upgraded excellent lighting and sound equipment together with a comprehensive costume wardrobe.

Expectations of the role

• To teach Speech and Drama, Stagecraft and general Theater studies and English classes (see below for English Department description).
• Course lessons are focused on instructing students to practice voice development, diction and vocal variety, expressiveness and volume projection. Inflections, articulations, speech rates, phrasing, breath, and vibration techniques are also explored in this class. Students spend time in the classroom and in the theater developing voice and diction skills by performing current and older works, including Shakespeare. Experience in differentiating to non-native English speakers and using theatrical text to improve pronunciation and articulation is a desirable skill, and one necessary to the training of many of our international students. Dialect and accent training may be introduced depending on the latter.
• Identify and adopt the most effective teaching approaches for pupils and keep abreast of current educational perspectives. Monitor teaching and learning activities in the classroom and ensure that it remains a facility conducive to high-quality education.
• To inspire and recruit students to the Theater program, together with promoting and encouraging high standards of stagecraft within the school. To assist the Performing Arts Department Chair in overseeing and promoting the teaching of speech and drama from 9th to 12thgrade, and to produce school productions working with other members of the Performing Arts Team.
• To produce two major annual High School productions, one per semester - the Fall Play, and the Spring Musical - (the latter in conjunction with the High School Music Director), and also contribute to the annual Spring Arts Festival performance schedule at the end of the year.
• To stimulate and encourage students to a high standard of interest and achievement in the subject area.
• Provide assessment information and written reports as required, together with training and completion of relevant audition requirements for seniors applying to tertiary institutions. Exam entries for externally assessed drama exams (eg. LAMDA and Trinity Exams) encouraged where appropriate.
• Promote the work of theater scholars to local partner schools.
• Collaborate with the Performing Arts Department Chair to create relevant academic travel itineraries (one per semester).
• Encourage pupils to be involved in regional cultural events and excursions.