Drama and Performing Arts Department

Introduction

Drama is a popular option subject both at GCSE and ‘A’ level attracting healthy numbers each year. Students study the AQA syllabus at GCSE and the EDEXCEL syllabus at ‘A’ Level.

At KS3, Years 8 and 9 have one hour of Drama per week. Schemes of work cover a broad range of acting skills, texts, issues and topics that are cross-curricular.

Whole school musicals are run every year and past productions have included: ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Oh What a Lovely War’, ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole’ , the smash sell-out ‘Grease’ , 'Boogie Nights', 'The Sound of Music' and our most recent production 'Return to the Forbidden Planet'.

Alongside this, a variety of ‘A’ level and GCSE coursework pieces (including whole plays) are put on throughout the year, in the Drama studio. Every year students take part in a variety of dynamic workshops from visiting companies including ‘Genesis’ and the ground-breaking ‘Frantic Assembly’.

External theatre visits are also an essential and regular part of the examination courses.

The studio is located upstairs in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC). This was opened by HRH Princess Anne in 1998. The Drama studio is purpose built to cope with a range of performances and includes specialised lighting, sound and staging systems.

The Drama and Performing Arts Department offers a variety of courses these include at KS4:

B-Tec Performing Arts (First Certificate)

This is equivalent to 2 GCSEs in modules covering music, drama and dance – two disciplines must be followed.

GCSE AQA Drama and Theatre Arts

During the course students will develop a knowledge and understanding of the practical skills in drama necessary for the realisation of a presentation to an audience.  Students’ own skills will be developed and the theory applied by working their own pieces of scripted, devised and theatre-in-education performances.  Students will respond with knowledge and understanding to plays and other types of drama from a performance perspective.  They will explore relationships and comparisons between texts and dramatic styles of different periods and of different cultures in order to show an awareness of social context and genre.

Students will then have the opportunity to see the skills identified and explored in a live performance which will be a focus in their written examination at the end of the course.

At KS5 level students can study the B-Tec Performing Arts (first diploma) in modules covering Drama, Dance and Performing Arts.

Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level

Course Aims

The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. Students will extend their ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. They will also be required to write about drama and to develop their powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions as well as studying plays and playwrights.

Entry Requirements

It is useful but not essential that students should have gained a grade B or above in Drama at GCSE. It is important to be interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and to be keen to perform.

Course Content

The 'A' level drama course is exciting, creative and has a strong practical bias. At all times the focus will be on depth within the work and the bringing together of knowledge, skills and personal experience to develop the understanding of drama. This course is intellectually demanding and written analysis and working. notebooks are an important element. Key features of the course are:

• emphasis on practical drama:
• devised performance and text in performance:
• practical exploration of historical and cultural content:
• creative opportunities.

Assessment

The AS consists of the following three units:
Unit 1 Exploration of drama and theatre.
In this unit students will be introduced to at least two plays which they will explore through a series of practical workshops. Students will be assessed on practical work and on notes kept about the two plays.
Unit 2 Text in performance.
Students perform a role in a production of a play. In preparation for this unit they will take part in workshops to develop performance or design skills. The exam for this unit takes the form of a practical test. During the rehearsals students will be required to keep notes to record thoughts, observations and questions about the production.
Unit 3 Text in context.
Students will answer one question asking them to discuss aspects of the play performed for Unit 2, and a second question to show their understanding and appreciation of "live" theatre. The examination lasts for two hours.

Advanced GCEconsists of a further three units:
Unit 4 Devising.
Students will work in a group of between three and twelve, to devise an original piece of drama for presentation to an audience. They will need to keep a Structured Record that will enable them to reflect upon and analyse the process.
Unit 5 Text in Performance.
This unit focuses on the in-depth study of one further play studied from the point of view of a director, designer or performer. Students will explore the chosen play and develop a workshop performance, which will be assessed by a visiting examiner.
Unit 6 Text in Context.
In Section A students will study one play from a choice of two from the point of view of a director. In Section B they are required to study and research the production history of a play written and performed between 1575 and 1720. This should include a contemporary production of the play seen at first hand.

Career and Higher Education Opportunities

The course is likely to appeal to students who:

• have studied drama at GCSE and wish to develop their skills and understanding;
• wish to study Arts or Drama at university:
• are embarking on courses where this will complement other studies.