Drama Theatre Studies
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an interesting and challenging course, which offers students the opportunity to study and practically explore a wide range of Theatre history, varied play texts and acting styles in both depth and breadth. The course will include units focused on Greek Theatre as well as new and exciting contemporary plays. This course requires students to see a wide range of live theatre. They will be given many opportunities to perform publically within staff directed shows, group directed devised performances and self directed monologues and duologues. The course provides opportunities to develop transferable skills ranging from research, text analysis, essay writing, performance skills, group work, directing, problem solving, leadership skills and organisation of information.
COURSE CONTENT: Edexcel Drama and Theatre A Level
Component 1: Devising
Coursework, 40% of the qualification, 80 marks.
This component requires the students to work as part of a group to create an original devised performance. This piece of theatre must be created demonstrating the key elements of a given Theatre Practitioner such as; Bertolt Brecht, Constantine Stanislavski, Mike Leigh, Antonin Artaud. The stimulus of the piece is based on a scripted extract from a published play. In addition to this performance a portfolio must be completed and submitted. This must be between 2500-3000 words. The portfolio will be based on the rehearsal process and evaluation of the final performance. Both performer and designer routes are available for this component.
Component 2: Text in Performance
Coursework, 20% of the qualification, 60 marks
This component requires a group performance/design realisation of an extract from a published theatre script. In addition to this scripted performance students must also prepare a monologue or duologue performance/design from a different published theatre script. A visiting examiner assesses the performances.
Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice
Written examination: 2 hours and 30 minutes, 40% of the qualification, 80 marks
The Drama and Theatre written exam in split into 3 sections, A, B and C.
Section A – Live Theatre Evaluation
Students are required to write a Live Theatre Evaluation. They are allowed to bring 500 words of notes into the exam with them. As part of the course students will attend the theatre many times over the two years. They will practice evaluating what they see and then write about their favourite/strongest one in the exam.
Section B – Page to Stage: Realising a Performance Text
Students are to answer two extended response questions based on an unseen extract from the performance text they have practically explored The questions will be based upon how they intend to realise the extract in performance. The text currently studied for this component is contemporary text, ‘That Face’ by Polly Stenham.
Section C – Interpreting a Performance Text
Students will answer one extended response question from a choice of two based on an unseen section from the studied performance text. The exploration of the text will be practical based, as the students will need to demonstrate how their re-imagined production concept will communicate ideas to a contemporary audience. The text currently studied for this component is ‘Lysistrata’ a Greek Comedy by Aristophanes. Students practically explore this comedy and research into the historical, cultural, social and political background in which it was written.
CAREER POSSIBILITIES
An advanced level course in Drama and Theatre is good preparation for anyone considering a degree in Drama, Theatre or Acting. It would also equip students with skills needed for qualifications and future careers in; Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing Management, Law, Social Work, Drama Therapy, Hospitality. It provides many transferable skills and academic rigour for Higher Education and the workplace
GCSE GRADE PROFILE: Students who study this subject will normally achieve 9-4 grades in a range of subjects, including a Grade 4 or above in English and Drama. It is not a necessity to have studied GCSE Drama.
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