Unlocking Potential: How we teach drama to Autistic Students

Shauna is a specialist drama teacher who through her dedicated and professional approach gets the very best out of every single child at Heathermount School. Although Shauna isn’t keen on being in the limelight herself, she excels at giving our children the chance to shine. 

At Heathermount School, performing arts goes beyond simply putting on a play; it's about fostering confidence, nurturing potential, and celebrating the dedication of our students.

High Expectations, High Achievements

One of the core principles at Heathermount School is maintaining high expectations for all our students. We believe that by recognising their individual strengths and abilities, we empower them to achieve. This extends to drama, where we don't shy away from challenging our students with complex scripts. We've witnessed firsthand how holding students to high standards fuels their determination and ultimately leads to exceptional performances.

Unlocking the Script: A Collaborative Journey

Learning lines requires time and dedication for autistic students, often calling for dedicated practice. Here at Heathermount School, we understand this. Script learning becomes a collaborative effort, with our teachers providing thorough scene breakdowns and ensuring comprehension. We also actively involve parents in this process, encouraging them to support rehearsals at home. This collaborative spirit is key to ensuring students not only memorise lines, but also grasp the underlying humour, sarcasm, and vocabulary within the script.

Building a Foundation: Facial Expressions and Movement

From a young age, our students in primary school and year 7 receive foundational training in facial expressions and movement. This training helps them embody characters and create authentic portrayals during rehearsals. As students progress through the years, we introduce advanced rehearsal techniques that delve deeper into exploring the emotions and thoughts driving a character's actions.

Advanced Techniques: Bringing Characters to Life

Techniques like "role on the wall," "thought tracking," and exploring the "Given Circumstances" become essential tools in our advanced drama classes. These techniques allow students to truly understand their characters and translate that understanding into a realistic performance. By applying their acting knowledge, students move beyond rote memorisation and breathe life into the characters they portray.

Dedication, Professionalism, and Taking Ownership

One of the most inspiring aspects of our drama programme is witnessing the dedication, patience, and commitment students display throughout the preparation process. The approach at Heathermount School is highly professional, and students take immense pride in their work. We treat school performances with the same seriousness as professional productions, even incorporating a student-run tech team that assists with props, costumes, and staging.

Confidence Through Ownership

At Heathermount School, building confidence is paramount in every aspect of learning, and drama is no exception. We provide opportunities for all students to experience success, resulting in a sense of pride in their accomplishments. The positive feedback students receive from audiences and peers serves as a powerful boost to their self-esteem. Our approach shifts from simply offering constructive criticism to engaging students in discussions and activities that actively develop their roles and characters. This sense of ownership empowers students, allowing them to grow both as performers and individuals.

By understanding how autistic students learn and promoting a collaborative environment with high expectations, Heathermount School unlocks the potential within each student, allowing them to shine on the stage.