Drama and Theatre Studies

To study this subject at A-level, you will either be a GCSE drama student or you may be new to the course. However, a passion and genuine love of the theatre is essential. You will need either a 6 or above in GCSE drama or a 6 in GCSE English or English Literature. Past or present participation in school productions or activities will further increase your suitability for this course, however performance experience is not essential. Drama and Theatre Studies is a course that requires commitment and proactivity; you will be expected to undertake independent learning from the very start of the course.

What will you study and learn?

You will study a range of texts and practitioners as well as learning to work and think as actors, directors and designers. You will be expected to perform to an examiner and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the process of practical preparation for a performance. The course is both practical and theoretical; you will undertake written tasks including theatrical reviews, detailed analysis of your own work, detailed study of a set text and social, cultural and historical knowledge of texts studied during the course.

Course content and examinations

Exam Board – AQA

You will study a range of texts and practitioners as well as learning to work and think as actors, directors and designers. You will be expected to perform to an examiner and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the process of practical preparation for a performance. The course is both practical and theoretical; you will undertake written tasks including theatrical reviews, detailed analysis of your own work, detailed study of a set text and social, cultural and historical knowledge of texts studied during the course.

Component One (40%) Written Exam: Drama and Theatre

This unit requires students to hone and develop their knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre.

Students will be assessed on the study of two published plays. They will develop an in depth understanding

of these plays and understand and develop creative ideas about how these plays could be performed and directed today. Students will also be assessed on a review of a piece of theatre they see.

Component Two (30%) Practical: Creating Original Drama

This is a practical component in which students create their own original piece of drama, also known as devising. Students are assessed on their ability to create and develop ideas to communicate meaning as part of the theatre making process making connections between dramatic theory and practice and apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance. Students can choose to be assessed as either:

• performer
• lighting designer
• sound designer
• set designer
• costume designer
• puppet designer

Component Three (30%) Practical: Making Theatre

Students will explore and rehearse three extracts from published plays and will apply the understanding from a key practitioner to the extracts. Students will formally perform one extract to an external AQA examiner. This is a practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance and analyse and evaluate their own work.

An accompanying reflective report is written by the students to show their analysis and evaluation of their performance.

Where could the subject take you?

Degrees in theatre studies, English or literature, media studies as well as psychology, social studies and law are available as a result of taking drama and theatre studies. Any career requiring management, personnel, or social skills is also possible. You could ultimately choose to specialise in the field of theatre and many of our students have gone on to study drama, dance and/or performing arts at a range of specialist performing arts schools.

Drama and Theatre studies gives you confidence in your ability to listen, to make decisions, to understand other people and to maintain a positive and creative way of working whilst constantly keeping your ideas fresh and innovative.