Drama and Performing Arts

A theatre is a place where anything can happen, it is magical, mysterious and fun. It brings people together and is a space where students can be themselves. There are no walls, no barriers. A theatre accepts all and enables expression.

The theatre also provides life skills, such as leadership, managing peers, speaking, projecting, listening, supporting and understanding time pressures. It is a space where students can create memories and build friendships which cut across year group and house divides.

There is a real excitement around drama and performing arts at Charterhouse which we want to embrace and enhance.

"Built on wonderful theatrical tradition the future potential for the Ben Travers Theatre (BTT) is huge and we greatly look forward to the expansion and refurbishment of the Theatre. Becoming a co-ed School has meant that dance, theatre and our performing arts programmes are in far greater demand than ever before; with numbers fast growing, there are opportunities for all in the Theatre, whatever aspect it is you want to be involved in. We’re not just training pupils for a life on the stage – The Theatre is a place where pupils learn all-important life skills, preparing them for whatever path they choose as adults."

Emily Fox - Artistic Director, Ben Travers Theatre 

Our Aim

Our academic offering for Drama & Theatre Studies is thriving at both A level and GCSE with double the number of students now opting to study it. Involvement in our co-curricular programme has grown in both dance and drama and this has only increased with co-education. As our community of pupils grows we want to nurture talent and creativity and support the momentum that is building in these areas.

Every term there are major productions in our theatre, including whole School plays and those performed by specific Years or Houses and our ambition is for as many students as possible to be involved. The annual School Musical is also now firmly established within our calendar and our programme of events includes performances and workshops by visiting professional theatre companies too. Pupils are also involved in the technical aspects of all productions, be it sound, lighting, stage managing, stage crew, set-construction or wardrobe.

Our Plans

The Ben Travers Theatre, named after the playwright Ben Travers (D1904), was opened in 1984 and we want to give it a lease of life to continue for at least another 30 years. The current theatre is in need of refurbishment and our equipment needs updating to provide students with a real-life professional theatre experience. The existing theatre will be fully refurbished to provide more flexible and comfortable seating arrangements, improved sound quality, upgraded ceiling walkways to allow students access to all staging and lighting, updated changing facilities and soundproofing.

Alongside this we will create a brand-new studio theatre for dance and drama. The studio will have semi-sprung floors, flexible seating options and mirrors on one side with large windows overlooking the sports pitches. The studio will enable smaller-scale productions and performances as well as a much-needed rehearsal space. It will provide pupils with a space to develop and produce smaller productions and to get used to using simpler pieces of equipment before they progress into the main auditorium. It is a space to test, learn and create.

An enhanced and extended foyer space and new outdoor patio will help improve the experience for visitors and students. A new classroom for our LAMDA programmes will enable us to meet demand for this course.

To support the Drama project click here