Drama & Theatre Studies

LINEAR A-LEVEL

• Designed as a natural progression from the GCSE Drama examination. • Offers many opportunities for practical, creative work for a variety of audiences. • Develops academic understanding of performance theory and theatre history, plays and playwrights and performance skills. • Enables you to explore a range of texts and theatre practitioners. • Asks you to reflect upon the processes involved in creating a piece of theatre. • Encourages an appreciation of live theatre through a variety of visits. • Requires that you conduct individual and group research. Students must be prepared to be involved, committed and fully focused in lessons, which will be both practical and academic in nature. Typical work might include: • Exploring themes or characters from a chosen play. • Experiencing at first hand the techniques of an important theatre practitioner. • Discussing ideas for lighting, costuming or setting a play. • Preparing for your own group performance. • Working independently. • Applying theoretical concepts to practical work. • Planning and leading workshops for other students to demonstrate their learning and skills. Students keep a detailed log of their work and will write specific assignments based on the practical exploration and performance work. The Drama and Theatre qualification will a combination of written exams and non-examined assessment, including practical work. Practical work will underpin preparation for written elements. This is a summary of the structure of the course offered by OCR. • Component 1 – Practitioners in practice – Research into the work of two practitioners and extracts from a text of the teacher’s choice. Devising a performance in response to that work. (40% of A level, 60% of AS - internally marked) • Component 2 – Exploring and performing texts. Student’s study one whole text and perform extracts for a visiting examiner (20%) • Component 3 – Analysing performance (written exam) –questions relating to two set texts from a given theme and evaluation of a live theatre performance (20% of A level, 40% of AS) • Component 4 – Deconstructing texts for performance (written exam) – Describing a director’s approach to a set text (20%)

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Grade 6 in GCSE Drama or similar qualification, such as BTEC Performing Arts. Students who have not studied a performance-based qualification at KS4, but who have a grade 6 for GCSE English Language, and a proven track record of enthusiasm for the arts, may also be considered. An enthusiasm for performance and the theatre is essential, as is a willingness to commit to rehearsals outside of lesson time.

ENRICHMENT

A Level Drama & Theatre students usually choose to undertake their sixth form enrichment in the Drama Department. Our students run drama clubs for younger students, with the support of the drama teachers, and often provide support in lessons, to stretch and challenge our up-and-coming boys and girls. A level Drama & Theatre students are also asked to mentor our Year 11s through their GCSE exam rehearsals, which can be fun, challenging and very fulfilling, especially on results day when you see how your group did in their exams! Exam Board- OCR