Tuesday this week was the third and final practical examination for Fifth Form students in the CXC Theatre Arts programme at Campus A of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. The production exam was held at the Auditorium of the Orealia Kelly Primary School.
Head of the Theatre Arts Department, Mrs Trevreen Queeley-Javois, told The Anguillian that throughout the year the students usually have three practical exams. The first is the drama improvisation exam (a 3-5 minute skit); secondly, the play-making exam (where the students have to write their own play); and the thirdly, the production exam (where they are not only required to produce a play, but to undertake the distribution of programmes and other associated work).
Questioned as to how the practical examinations are conducted, Ms Queeley-Javois, explained: “We have an External Examiner in the person of Farrah Banks. She comes along with me and both of us follow the criteria from CXC and then we grade the students according to that criteria.”
The Theatre Arts Head stated that the play, produced by the students, was about a young girl who had a love affair with her married teacher, who then declined to take responsibility for her pregnancy. “I think the students did very well, based on what I taught them over the last two years. They didn’t get any assistance from me,” the teacher acknowledged.
Ms Banks, Director of Radio Anguilla, has a considerable amount of experience about theatrical performance, having been one of the actors for Sunshine Theatre Company, on the island, for several years. Her services were therefore employed as the External Examiner for the Theatre Arts Programme.
“For the past few years I have been working with Teacher Trevreen who is doing an awesome job training these young people,” Ms Banks commented. “In my day in school, the children did not understand how important this was, and I wish we had a programme such as this when I was in high school. This is because it really helps you to develop your communication skills; to get along with your peers and to personally develop in so many other ways. My beginning in theatre, although it wasn’t in the school, has helped me throughout my career. Even if you do not seek a career in theatre, this can help you in whatever career choice you have. I want to commend Teacher Trev because she has seen so many students come through this programme over the years.”
According to the teacher, this is the third year that the theatre examinations have been held in Anguilla. “We have had two batches of students that were already successful in the programme,” she reported. “To date, we have had 90 percent passes in the programme,” she added.
