Drama & Theatre Studies

What does studying the subject involve?
The Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Drama and Theatre Studies focuses on working with plays, providing students the opportunity to study them from the perspective of a director, designer, performer and critic. The qualification is designed to enable you to acquire a knowledge and understanding of the language of drama and theatre as well as to develop your performing and analytical skills. The full Advanced GCE in Drama and Theatre studies aims to extend the knowledge, skills and understanding by applying what you have learned in your own creative work.

How will I know if I would be successful at it?
Drama is ideal for students who have sound ability in English and who enjoy exploring the theory and practice of the semiotics of performance. Students should have an interest in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama. Compulsory theatre visits are necessary to complete coursework and sit the written examination at A2.
You will need exceptionally good attendance to complete this course as the assessments are carried out across continual lessons and within group work.

What skills will I develop and where could studying this subject lead me?
You will develop sophisticated communication skills both as a performer and as a part of a team. You will be required to make decisions both independently and through negotiation. Throughout the written aspects of this course you will develop a sophisticated use of drama terminology, justifying on paper decisions made practically and you will learn to critically evaluate and analyse performance work.
This AS and Advanced GCE can lead to further study in Drama, Theatre Studies or Performing Arts in Higher Education at degree or HND level. Alternatively Drama compliments a range of other subjects such as English, Media, Psychology and Law amongst others. Alternatively Drama helps you to develop the skills needed for any profession in which you have to work closely with the general public e.g. Personal Assistant, Nurse, Travel Industry

Important things to consider / Information that students need to know.
This subject requires extremely good attendance as a great deal of work is based around group participation and requires internal assessment across lesson time.
Performance work is central to this subject and students will be expected to perform on their own in front of a visiting examiner as well as within a group performance.
Students need to plan and mange their workload carefully if taking Drama as there are certain points during the course when you will need to arrange and commit to group rehearsals within school but outside of lesson time.

Entry Requirements
5 A*-C grades at GCSE including English Language

Which other subjects does it combine well with?
English Literature is an obvious complimentary course although students studying a wide range of subjects have successfully completed and enjoyed the course.

Similarities between the subject at GCSE and A Level.
Although you will be developing many of the skills used at GCSE the Advanced Subsidiary is different in its approach to studying drama, students are expected to engage intellectually with play texts and directorial decisions and reflect critically on their own learning process.

Progression in the subject between AS and A2.
The full Advanced GCE in Drama and Theatre studies aims to extend the knowledge, skills and understanding by applying what you have learned in your own creative work. In devising theatre, you will alternate roles between being playwright, performer, designer and director and apply your knowledge of different theatre forms and structures gained from Advanced Subsidiary to the creation of your own work. In performing theatre, you are required to apply your knowledge, skills and understanding within the structure of a director’s interpretation of a play and to operate a highly intellectual level as well as at a highly skilled practical level. This aspect of the course requires you to work far more autonomously than in the AS.

Modules and assessment information
AS Unit 1 Exploration of Drama and Theatre (40%of AS) (20%of total GCE)
In this unit you will learn how to analyse two play texts in a variety of ways so that you become familiar with the way written plays can be interpreted for realisation in performance. Students will be assessed internally and moderated externally through
- A set of Exploration Notes (3000 words)
- An Internal Practical Assessment
- A written evaluation of a live performance (1000 words)

AS Unit 2 Theatre Text in Performance (60%of AS) (30%of total GCE)
Students demonstrate skills in a performance of a play and a monologue.
- The monologue and play are assessed by a visiting external examiner who attends a performance of the above.

A2 Unit 3 Exploration of Dramatic Performance (40%of A2) (20%of total GCE)
This unit requires the creation of a unique and original piece of theatre. Students will be internally assessed and externally moderated through
- both the process of creation and performance of your work.
- a written evaluation on both the process and performance of your work

A2 Unit 4 Theatre in Context (60%of A2) (30%of total GCE)
In Section A of this unit you will explore a set play text from the point of view of a director. In Section B you will explore and research the original performance conditions of a play and compare these with a current live performance of the same text.
This externally assessed unit takes the form of a two and a half hour written examination.

Examination Board
Edexcel

Links

www.Edexcel.org.uk

www.theatreguideinfo/.co.uk

www.britishtheatrereviews

www.shakespeares-globe.org

www.stevenberkoff.com

Online Book List

Visit Amazon to buy our recommended text books. If you choose to order books via Amazon please read their terms and conditions.

Theatre Studies An Approach for Advanced Level by Simon Cooper and Sally Mackey (ISBN 0-7487-2121-5)

Drama and Theatre Studies at AS / A Level by Needlands and Dobson (ISBN 0-340-75860-0)

Downloads

Year 12 homework