Fourth Theatre Visit for Year 10 GCSE Drama Students
Our Year 10 GCSE Drama students attended their fourth live theatre performance earlier this month, watching The Welkin by Lucy Kirkwood.
As students become more experienced theatre-goers, this visit pushed them beyond spectacle and into deeper consideration of structure, performance style and audience response.
The Welkin presented students with a challenging and thought-provoking piece of theatre, rooted in historical context but resonating strongly with modern audiences.
The production encouraged students to consider how theatre can be used to explore complex social issues, particularly justice, gender, power and morality. Rather than offering clear answers, the play demanded active engagement from the audience, making it an excellent stimulus for critical thinking.
Students were able to observe how performers sustained tension and character relationships across an ensemble-led piece, noting the use of naturalistic acting, pacing, and subtext to convey meaning. Many commented on how moments of stillness and silence were just as impactful as dialogue, reinforcing the importance of deliberate performance choices.
From a design perspective, the production offered clear examples of how set, lighting and sound can establish atmosphere and support narrative without overwhelming the action. Students were encouraged to reflect on how these elements shaped their understanding of time, place and mood, directly supporting their learning for Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice.
As this was their fourth theatre visit, students are now increasingly confident in using subject-specific vocabulary and articulating personal responses to live performance. This visit has further strengthened their ability to analyse how performance and design choices communicate meaning to an audience – skills that will be essential as they move forward in their GCSE course.
Overall, The Welkin provided a rich and demanding theatrical experience, continuing to broaden students’ understanding of theatre as both an art form and a powerful tool for storytelling and social commentary.