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Our Year 10 and 11 Drama students travelled to the Oxford Playhouse to see The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt, adapted from the novel by Susan Hill. It was an outstanding opportunity to support their preparation for Section B of the GCSE Drama written examination.

With just two actors and a very simple set, students could really focus on how tension is created. The way the actors used their voices, physicality and timing kept the audience completely gripped. Even the smallest movement felt important.

We talked about how lighting and sound were used to build suspense, and how clever staging choices made ordinary objects feel unsettling. It was a great reminder that theatre does not need elaborate sets to be powerful. It needs control, imagination and strong storytelling.

Most importantly, students now have a live production they can confidently refer to in their exam answers. A genuinely worthwhile evening and, I suspect, one that will stay with them for quite some time.

Thank you for the experience Oxford Playhouse!