Drama and Theatre

Those choosing Drama and Theatre as an academic course will have the opportunity to develop their acting skills and understanding of stagecraft. They will have the chance to learn a wide range of styles, and, as part of the A Level course, will study practitioners and published plays. Studying Drama and Theatre at Clifton College encourages students to develop their teamwork and communication skills, transferable skills that are highly valued by both universities and employers.

Course content and assessment

We study the WJEC Eduqas exam board syllabus at A Level. Students will study two complete play texts and will participate in three performances: a reinterpretation of a text, a scripted extract, and a devised piece. Students will need to consider the working methods of a theatre practitioner or company in their devised performance work. They may follow performance or design options for the performances.

Component 1: Theatre Workshop, non-exam assessment: internally assessed, 20% of qualification. Students will be assessed on either acting or design. Students participate in the reinterpretation of an extract from a text chosen from a list supplied by WJEC. The piece must be developed using the techniques and working methods of either an influential theatre practitioner or a recognised theatre company. Students must produce a realisation of the performance/ design and a creative log.

Component 2: Text in Action, non-exam assessment: externally assessed, 40% of qualification. Students will be assessed on either acting or design. Students participate in the creation, development and performance of two pieces of theatre based on a stimulus supplied by WJEC: a devised piece influenced by a practitioner or theatre company, and an extract from a text. Students will perform their pieces to a visiting examiner, and will submit a process and evaluation report within one week of completion of the practical work.

Component 3: Text in Performance, written examination, 2 hours 30 minutes, 40% of qualification. The exam will consist of a series of questions on the texts students have studied across the course, one to be pre-1956 and the other post-1956. They will also answer a question on a set extract from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

Facilities and staff

All teachers in the department are subject specialists, therefore we are able to offer a broad academic opportunity to all, with Drama GCSE and A Level being offered to all students on timetable, as well as a full LAMDA programme.

The department has use of the College’s 300-seat prosceniumarched theatre and two purpose-built dance studios. We work closely with Bristol Old Vic Theatre, the Bath Theatre Royal, RADA, and Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Additional features

The Drama Department works closely with Music to promote Performing Arts at Clifton. Through this collaboration, Cliftonians get the best possible opportunities working on such exciting recent productions as Swallows and Amazons, Little Shop of Horrors, We Will Rock You and Lord of the Flies.

We stage three productions annually – a May production in the Summer Term for Years 9, 10 and 12, an outdoor arts festival at the end of the Summer Term, and a full-scale musical theatre production in November in the Redgrave Theatre.

Potential careers

Performer, director, industry designer, business, marketing, PR, finance, law.

Entry Requirements

Grade 6 (or B) in GCSE English and Drama if taken.

Course Offered

A Level WJEC Eduqas Drama and Theatre