In the minds of many parents, drama is often categorized as an "extracurricular interest class" — taking a backseat to Chinese, mathematics, English, and various examinations.

However, at NKCS, from Grade 1 to Grade 8, drama has always been a systematic and regular course on the timetable that cannot be squeezed out. We firmly believe that it is not a "superfluous embellishment to be attended only when time permits," but an irreplaceable core experience in a child’s growth journey: through role-playing, impromptu expression, and team collaboration, students naturally build confidence, communication skills, and empathy in real-life scenarios.

In the senior high school years, the offering of IGCSE Drama (0411) and IBDP Theatre further provides students with the opportunity to delve into drama as a serious academic course. Rather than merely "putting on a play," they systematically study script analysis, performance techniques, directorial concepts, stage design, and cross-cultural theatrical traditions. Ultimately, they achieve a comprehensive understanding of the dramatic arts through creative works, stage performances, or academic research.

For this very reason, drama at NKCS is more than just an embellishing art of "performing well"; it is a comprehensive and essential "life course" that nurtures holistic growth.

● Learning to empathize while interpreting roles, not just seeing things from one's own perspective;

● Practicing communication and collaboration in team creation, instead of talking past each other;

●  Constantly facing oneself and others in stage presentations, breaking the psychological barriers of "fear of making mistakes, fear of being on stage."

These are precisely the core requirements for talents in the future society, and also the underlying abilities that NKCS values most in its "holistic education."

These are precisely the core requirements for talents in the future society, and also the underlying abilities that NKCS values most in its "holistic education."Therefore, over the years, the school has systematically integrated drama into the regular courses of primary, junior high, and senior high schools, breaking the boundaries of traditional classrooms with immersive and experiential teaching methods. It has allowed the concept of "nurturing growth through drama and empowering the future with art" to penetrate every class, every rehearsal, and every performance.

01 From "Hobby" to "Direction": Can Drama Really Influence a Child's Future?

Many parents ask: "Is drama class really useful for the future?"The most convincing answer lies in the children who have graduated from NKCS.

Susie X., a founding student, first encountered drama in Grade 6 and participated in the school's first musical Shrek the Musical backstage rather than as an actor. Since then, she has deeply felt the power of drama and continued to pursue her passion over the next seven years. She has come to a more profound realization: when stories are retold on stage, the emotional tension and depth of thinking they convey far exceed the words in textbooks.It can be said that drama was the enlightenment for Xu Hongwei's future path in the humanities, and the first school where she understood the complexity of human nature and the world.For NKCS, this is precisely an important way we insist on letting children "deeply engage with the humanities" during their middle school years.

As a founding student of NKCS, Jo Z., a 2025 graduate, has always adhered to the concept of "integrating knowledge and action." She actively participated in the school's drama activities, applied what she had learned to practice, and demonstrated unlimited potential as an artist. Her innovative thinking and unwavering pursuit made her works stand out among many scripts, ultimately earning her an offer from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).For her, drama is not just role-playing on stage, but a practice ground for "integrating knowledge and action" —expressing viewpoints through works and responding to reality through creation.

Dimitrije, a 2025 graduate, transferred to NKCS from a public school in Shanghai in Grade 8. He has since played the leading roles in two school plays — in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, he portrayed the satirical comedy character Ernest with precise physical language; in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, he depicted Higgins, a character with both arrogance and vulnerability, through a highly layered performance.Through repeated role-building, he accumulated strong empathy and expressive talents, which became his most unique advantages in college applications and ultimately helped him get admitted to the Directing major at Beijing Film Academy (BFA).For him, who later pursued a career in film, television, and directing, the drama training during his middle school years was not only a professional starting point but also a set of underlying abilities for "how to communicate with the world."

These different stories all point to the same truth:At NKCS, drama is never just "a performance on stage," but a long-term, daily growth field.

02 The Three-Day Art Festival: A Carefully Designed Growth Journey

The Three-Day Art Festival: A Carefully Designed Growth JourneyTo translate the concept of drama education into more vivid practice and build a higher-level growth platform for students, NKCS successfully held the first NKCS Express Drama Festival from the 21st to the 23rd of this month.This three-day art event has evolved from an initial educational exploration into a model of educational practice integrating creativity, teamwork, and imagination — the full participation of students, the high recognition of parents, the active involvement of sister schools, and the sincere thanks from the UK's Box House Theatre Company all confirm the educational effectiveness of this event and NKCS's strategic commitment to drama education.

Build a "collaboration site": Inter-school linkage + professional support

On the morning of November 21st, the drama festival officially kicked off. With a warm "cross-border exchange session," NKCS welcomed teachers, students from many sister schools, and artists from Box House Theatre Company, laying the foundation for cross-border collaboration and creative collisions.In the open creative space carefully built by the school, students from different grades and schools quickly broke down barriers:from unfamiliarity to familiarity, from "let me speak" to "let's do it together," they naturally practiced cross-cultural communication and teamwork through real tasks.In the subsequent professional workshops, artists from Box House Theatre Company shared their expertise generously, integrating cutting-edge drama techniques such as physical expression and group storytelling into interactive teaching, allowing students to experience the artistic charm and creative logic of professional theater practitioners up close.

Then ignite "internal motivation": From watching plays to wanting to "perform on stage oneself"

That evening, the classic play Twisted Tales brought by Box House Theatre Company became the "artistic spark" that ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.As a model of forum theater, the play abandons complex stage sets and tells the story entirely through the actors' physical tension, spatial control, and team rapport. The actors' highly engaging performances captivated the audience from the moment the lights came on, making the students present deeply understand a simple yet powerful concept:The core of drama is human expression.Many students admitted after watching the performance that this was their first exposure to such a pure form of drama —their existing imagination of "stage performance" was completely subverted, and they transformed from "passive spectators" to "eager creators."

Hand over the stage to the children: A complete closed loop from inspiration to work

Finally, hand over the stage to the children: A complete closed loop from inspiration to workThe educational effect of this professional performance continued to reverberate in the subsequent workshops.During the creation and rehearsal from Saturday to Sunday, students transformed the inspiration gained from watching the performance into practice:

Originally shy students began to bravely stand in the center to express their ideas;

Their physical language evolved from casual to more precise and powerful;

Team discussions shifted from disagreement to efficient collaboration.Under the full guidance of NKCS's drama teacher team, students completed the entire process from creative conception to segment presentation in just two days — every scene and every dialogue embodies their thinking and growth.

The inter-school participation model has made the art festival an even more platform for multicultural integration. In the rehearsal rooms, figures exploring physical expression, discussions sparking intellectual collisions, and laughter of self-breakthrough interweave.For many participants, these three days were not only a journey of improving artistic skills but also a leap in self-awareness and social abilities.

Drama Makes Growth "Visible"

"I used to think drama was just 'memorizing lines and practicing formations,' but this time I realized that our bodies can create a small world."Maggie C. from Grade 10 mentioned in her sharing that the process of reinterpreting classic fairy tales with her group partners not only exercised her creativity but also taught her to listen and tolerate in collaboration. "When presenting our works on stage, the confidence I felt was unprecedented."

As a Grade 11 student who has been deeply involved in drama for many years, Tina D. felt even more deeply:"Box House taught us not only physical storytelling skills but also made me understand that the essence of drama is communication. Going from being strangers to having a tacit understanding with my group members, and from disagreements to reaching a consensus — this collaborative ability will be a valuable asset for my future college applications and entry into society."

Her thoughts resonate with those of previous graduates —NKCS's drama education has always been committed to cultivating "well-rounded creators."

Chyna L. from Grade 5 described the experience as a "catalyst for courage":"Twisted Tales made me realize that performances don't have to be perfect; sincerity is the most powerful. The moment we improvised to resolve the accident of the door getting stuck during the performance was more unforgettable than any smooth show. Now I'm no longer afraid of being nervous on stage."

Alice F. from the same grade added earnestly: "It would be better if we had a little more rehearsal time; we all wanted to polish our works to be more refined."This sincere "suggestion for improvement" has also become an important reference for the school to optimize future drama activities.

For Sinclair W. and Felix W. from Grade 12, this art festival was a precious footnote to their high school careers.Sinclair W. said:"During rehearsals, I shouted until my voice was hoarse, and after the performance, I was too tired to speak, but the moment I heard the applause, all the exhaustion was worth it."

Felix W. recalled:"Group members who didn't know each other on the first day were rehearsing even during lunch breaks. This feeling of going all out for a common goal is the best graduation gift NKCS has given me."

In these true sharing sessions, we saw something more important than "whether one can act":Teenagers who dare to go on stage, can collaborate, take responsibility, and are willing to give their all for something.

Parent Perspective: Changes More Reassuring Than Grades

"Every day after school, my child jumps with joy to share interesting rehearsal stories, and even reviews with friends on weekends."Kayla Z.'s mother from Grade 5 sighed sincerely:"I used to worry that my child was introverted, but I never expected her to completely open up in drama. This breakthrough is more reassuring to us than grades."

Chloe's mother from Grade 5 expressed her approval from the perspective of educational philosophy:"We originally thought drama was just a hobby, but NKCS has shown us that it can teach children collaboration, expression, and courage. The school invites world-class theater companies to campus and creates such a good platform for children — as parents, we feel particularly at ease. Now our child dares to take the initiative to express her ideas; this kind of confidence can't be bought with any amount of money."

For many NKCS parents, this drama festival has made a consensus clearer:On a child's growth checklist, "daring to express oneself, being able to collaborate, and facing oneself" are just as important as scores.

Building a New Ecosystem for Drama Education

Building a New Ecosystem for Drama EducationThe complete success of this art festival could not have been achieved without the joint efforts of multiple parties.NKCS's drama team — Samuel D, Philip M, Claire C, Eluny B — and Artistic Director Simon S provided full support with their professional competence. From event planning to on-site guidance, they built a growth ladder for students with patience and expertise; the careful accompaniment of teachers from sister schools created a warm and inclusive creative atmosphere for students; the trust and support of parents allowed the seeds of art education to take root in the family soil; the meticulous guarantee of logistics teams such as administration, publicity, and technology ensured the smooth operation of every link of the event. The world-class artistic experience brought by the UK's Box House Theatre Company further broadened the students' artistic horizons.

The conclusion of the first NKCS Express Drama Festival marks a new starting point for the school's drama education.It not only demonstrates the unique value of drama in connecting the community, stimulating creativity, and shaping personalities but also is a concentrated presentation of NKCS's "holistic education" philosophy.

In the future, the school will continue to deepen the practice of drama education, build more high-quality platforms, and insist on doing something that seems "not so utilitarian" —reserving time and space for every child to experiment, explore, and shine in drama,allowing more children to discover themselves and achieve self-fulfillment through drama, and letting the light of art illuminate the path of growth.