A Level Drama and Theatre Studies

Introduction – why choose this subject?

Drama supports and encourages personal expression and the exploration of a wide range of cultures, experiences, perspectives, and the world in which we live. Drama allows pupils to develop transferable skills in leadership, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving.

Drama A Level is not just for those who wish to study subject Post 18. Drama equips you with transferable skills such as teamwork, interpersonal skills, creativity, independence…… the list goes on.

You don’t have to be a performer! Do you love Art, Photography or Craft? Consider set and prop or costume, hair and makeup design. Do you love Music? Consider sound design. And don’t forget lighting design…

Drama and Theatre Studies is not a “soft” subject. It is accepted by all universities, including Oxbridge. It is the perfect mix of practical work, written coursework and essays.

Many of our A Level student have studied GCSE Drama, but this is not essential. What is essential is a passion for making theatre, for exploring, experimenting and challenging yourself through the medium of drama, as a performer, theatre maker and designer.

Throughout the course students will explore five texts, at least seven theatre practitioners, create a devised piece, a text piece and a reconstructed text piece for a performance exam, as well as attend live theatre performances. Students can specialise in performance, design (set and props, lighting, sound, costume, hair and makeup) or a combination of both.

How is the course examined?

Practitioner workshops
The course will begin with a series of practical workshops exploring the techniques of a wide range of influential theatre practitioners.

A2 - Component 1 - Theatre Workshop
C1 A Level: Internally assessed practical exam – 60 marks / 20%
A 10-15 minute performance of a deconstructed extract of a text in the style of a chosen practitioner or company, plus a creative log of 1500 words.  Students may choose to examined as a performer of designer (Set and Props, Lighting, Sound or Costume Hair & Makeup)

A2 - Component 2  - Text in Action
C2 A Level: Externally assessed practical exam – 120 marks / 40%
A group devised piece and a group performance of a text extract based on a stimulus set by the exam board, supported by a written process and evaluation report of 1500 words.  Students may choose to examined as a performer of designer (Set and Props, Lighting, Sound or Costume Hair & Makeup)

A2 - Component 3 - Text in Performance 
C3 A Level: Externally assessed written exam – 120 marks / 40%
A 2 ½ hour written exam.  Candidates will study one set text pre 1956 (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and one text post 1956 (Love and Information), plus one extract from ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time’.

Equipment

• Recommended book: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Tennessee Williams (Penguin ISBN 978-0-141-19028-0)
• Recommended book: Love and Information - Caryl Churchill (NHB ISBN 978-1-84842-288-9)
• Recommended book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens (Bloomsbury, ISBN: 978-1-4081-7335-0).
• 1 Lever Arch File 

Homework

Students will be expected to attend as many live theatre visits as possible, and to watch live theatre as ongoing homework and wider research through the two websites made available (Drama Online and National Theatre at home).

Learning outside of the classroom

• Year 10-13 Independent Production (Year 1)

• Year 9-13 Musical Production (Year 2)

• New View Play Writing Competition
• Arts Award Gold
• Theatre Visits and workshops as appropriate.