Why Drama and Theatre Studies?
The syllabus has been designed to encourage students to develop their creative, imaginative and social skills while enabling them to achieve a deeper understanding of theatre as an art form. It is an exciting, challenging course that equips students for the demands of Higher Education and future employment.
The course is assessed partly through coursework monitored by the teacher and moderated by an external examiner, and partly through a final examination. Students will work on several plays and texts in preparing for their performance examination. They will have the possibility of developing various technical skills. In the terminal examination they will be asked to discuss a play vis à vis its cultural and historical context and reflect upon a play they have seen performed live.
Course Overview
Unit 1 – Exploration of Drama and Theatre
Students will learn how to analyse plays written for the theatre, by studying two contrasting texts. Students are also required to experience a live theatre performance and submit an evaluation.
Unit 2 – Theatre Text in Performance
This unit offers students the chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment, by offering either a monologue or duologue and contributing to a performance of a professionally published play by a well-known writer. Students may offer either acting or design form and must also provide a concept of the interpretation of their chosen roles or designs.
Unit 3 – Exploration of Dramatic Performance
Students must create a unique and original piece of theatre and will be assessed both on the process of creation and the finished product in the form of a performance to an invited audience. They are also required to complete an evaluation of these.
Unit 4 – Text in Context
This unit requires the detailed study of one set play text and one prescribed historical period of theatrical development.
Assessment
AS Level Exploration of Drama and Theatre is internally assessed and externally moderated. Theatre Text in Performance is assessed by practical examination. A2 Level Exploration of Dramatic Performance is internally assessed and externally moderated. Theatre Text in Context is assessed by written examination.
Beyond A Level
Students with A Level Drama and Theatre Studies may progress to a variety of Higher Education courses, including those at Oxbridge, in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.