What kind of student is this course suitable for?
This course is suitable for students who have studied GCSE Drama and achieved a grade B or above, or who have substantial drama experience. Students who do not meet these criteria will be considered on their individual experience and suitability for the course.
You need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama. You should be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop your skills in some or all of these areas. Equally you will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies. You need to be keen, committed and focused.
What will I learn on this course?
The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. You will extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. You will also be required to write about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays and playwrights.
What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?
AS Level
The AS level consists of two units, taken as a one year course.
Unit 1 Exploration of Drama and Theatre (20% of A level)
Students will study at least two plays in context, through a series of practical workshops. Pupils will be assessed on their practical work in lessons and on the notes that they keep on their study of the two plays. They will also study two or three theatre practitioners, who have influenced modern theatre practice. In addition they will have to watch some live theatre performances and write an evaluation. An external examiner will mark these.
Unit 2 Theatre Text in Performance (30% of A level)
This unit offers students a chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment. The first section requires that students offer either a monologue or a duologue. The second section requires that students contribute to a performance of a professionally published play by a known writer. This is an externally assessed unit.
On successful completion of the AS examination students can progress on to the A2 (A level)
A Level
The full A level qualification is made up of the AS units plus two more units studied at a higher level.
Unit 3 Exploration of Dramatic Performance (20%)
In groups of between three and twelve students, the candidates devise an original piece of drama for presentation to an audience. They are assessed on their personal contribution to the devising process and the performance.
Candidates keep a Structured Record that reflects upon and analyses the process. The teacher examines the students on both the creative process and the performance. The performance will be recorded on video as well as a session from the developmental process.
Unit 4 Theatre Text in Context (30%)
2.5 hour written examination.
This unit requires detailed study of one play text and one prescribed historical period of theatrical development.
Section A and B (20%). You will study one play from a choice of three from the point of view of a director and you will be required to develop and shape your ideas for a fully thought through production. The choice in this section for 2009 and 2010 is either Lysistrata by Aristophanes, Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe or Woyzeck by Georg Buchner. These sections require you to relate your ideas for the whole play to an extract set in the examination and to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the social, cultural and/or historical contexts of the play.
Section C (10%). You are required to study and research the production history of a play written and performed between 525BC-AD65, or 1564-1720 or 1828-1914 and to evaluate the ways in which directors, designers and performers have used the medium of drama to interpret the chosen play. This should include a contemporary production of the play. It requires you to compare two productions of the play that you have researched and to evaluate the effectiveness of the way in which the medium of drama has been used to create the performances.
Are there opportunities to develop skills as part of this course?
As well as covering advanced level study of drama, the course will enable you to develop skills, which will be essential to you in whatever you go on to do afterwards:
Application of number
Utilise appropriate measurements or statistics in budgeting and theatre design.
Communication
Discuss and present ideas and opinions concerning a drama production you are part of, a production you have seen, or a play/playwright you have studied
Improving own learning and performance
Plan for a production and keep comprehensive notes
Information Technology
Use the Internet as a research tool
Problem solving
Work within constraints to create an effective production
Working with others
Contribute to realising drama and collaborate effectively with fellow performers/designers
What could I go on to do at the end of my course?
This AS/A level can lead to further study in Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts in Higher Education at degree or HND level. It can be used as part of your course to broaden your studies and may lead on to a career in the performing arts industries.
Drama and Theatre Studies AS/A level complement a range of subjects such as English Literature, Media/Film studies and Art. It is useful in building confidence and improving presentation skills in a range of careers.