Mainstream drama classes provide:
- a fun activity with lots of friends
- tools and exercises to develop imagination and creativity
- chances to perform in front of an audience
- professional actor training from an early age
- a nurturing environment to improve self-confidence
Drama is all around us
Drama is at the heart of nearly everything that we do at Mainstream, because it is about creating stories, turning them into physical experiences and communicating them to others in an immediate and accessible way.
Although the performing arts have been an integral part of every culture throughout the history of human civilisation, the availability of dramatic presentations in the modern world in various media such as theatre, radio, television, video, DVD and the Internet means that most of us see more drama in a week than most of our ancestors saw in a lifetime. It is therefore more important than ever that we learn to understand, make our own critical judgements about and even create our own examples of this important and influential artform.
Training our actors of the future
Drama is actually a collection of skills and techniques and a body of knowledge that every actor should have and the methods of utilising them all to create a performance. These skills may include storytelling, voice control, mime, stage combat, improvisation, research, comedy, working from scripts, mask work, movement skills, verse speaking and many others.
Drama benefits in the rest of life
Participation in drama has also been shown to be beneficial in a less direct way. For instance, a recent study into a programme of drama work in primary schools by the National Theatre found that pupils came away with the following benefits:
- increased self-confidence and self-esteem
- a recognition, through experience, of the value of working with other people towards goals
- higher scores in optional SATs mathematics
- learned to speak more clearly and listen more attentively
Mainstream's drama classes
Mainstream's academy drama tuition is part of our StageWise classes; our drama-only students join with the StageWise students for the 1½ hour drama element of the StageWise class at their appropriate age and level.
To join, simply turn up to the appropriate class around fifteen minutes before the start time to be added to the register. There is no need to enrol or to book in advance. See our timetable page for class times, locations and prices.