Well this week I had the pleasure of presenting 18 pupils to the SQA for their Higher Drama Acting Exam. This is an external exam which is now worth 50% of their overall grade.

We have had a tough time at Knox as all the pupils sitting the Higher are doing what we call a ‘crash higher’ in the subject; which means they are sitting the subject with no previous school experience, that is not to say that they have not risen to the challenge.

The year has been building up to this moment where all 18 pupils got the chance to showcase their talent in front of an audience of keen Standard Graders and the SQA marker. (I don’t know who was more nervous, me or them?!) We had performed to parents on the Monday Evening as an Open Dress rehearsal and I think they were surprised at just how professional these young people actually were!

The Exam asks the pupils to perform two roles; one from a Classic Text and a contrasting role from a Scottish Contemporary Theatre text. Our pupils performed Classic scenes from

• Antigone
• The Importance of Being Ernest
• Lovers
• A Taste of Honey
• The Crucible
• The House of Bernarda Alba

Although our set text is Antigone I wanted the examier to see a variety of scenes but also I didn’t want pupils to feel they were beking compared if they repeated scenes from the same play.

The second roles were from the following Scottish Texts

• Men Should Weep
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
• The Architect
• Sleeping Around
• Borders of Paradise
• Perfect Days

It was a long day, both mentally and physically exhausting however I am so proud of all of them, they really shone and hopefully will do well oncethe results come out in August.

The Higher Drama is a hard course, I bet we all say that, but honestly the course asks pupils to be Writers, Directors, Actors, Dramaturgs, Researchers and Academics. I suppose the SQA did not want to see the course being seen as some see it as a ‘Mickey Mouse’ subject, I for one know that we are not and indeed, having just studied the play, i’m sure Miss Brodie would have had a word or two to say about it!

                                                                                                                                                                        So we have now been back almost a month and I have to say The Knox Academy NYC Drama Trip was amazing!

With 42 pupils and 7 staff we boarded our Virgin Atlantic Flight to JFK and spent 6 days in the city that never does sleep!

Highlights of the trip included our guided sightseeing tour of NYC, Empire State Building on a clear and crisp night, a Q&A session with Broadway performer Mary Illes, Mamma Mia and In The Heights, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Personal favourite was our time spent with Mary Illes, who’s appeared in many Broadway shows including Cats and The Scarlet Pimpernel. She gave us a private concert before answering questions from both staff and pupils about the life of a performer. She also mentioned the same advice I gave my Highers at the start of the year… so hopefully now they will take it on board!

During spare time I went to the Top of the Rock and have to admit that this was a far better view that from the Empire State Building.

The Pupils of the trip were not only fantastic ambassadors for Knox Academy but also for Scotland. They were a pleasure to spend time with.

We arrived back tired and exhausted but most of all buzzing from such an exciting and memorable trip!

Many thanks to our Head Teacher (Janis) for her continual support in the Drama Department, To Kirsty at EF Tours for a wonderful trip and Bob our Tour Guide.

Next NYC trip????!!!! Watch this space!