Drama

Overview:

The curriculum for drama should aim to ensure that all students:

• Are exposed to a range of different theatrical styles and practitioners.

• Understand how to use a range of stimuli effectively to create their own performance pieces.

• Are able to experiment with voice, movement and facial expression in order to create and perform characters different from themselves.

• Develop independent learning, resilience and teamwork skills.

• Are able to critically evaluate drama performances and offer constructive feedback identifying areas of strength and suggestions for improvements.

• Develop appreciation for existing repertoire and understand how to analyse, rehearse and perform a scripted play from page to stage.

Year 7 units of study include a focus on the key concepts of:

• What is Drama?

• Exploring stories and characterisation

• Scripts

Year 8 units of study include a focus on the key concepts of:

• Mime and Melodrama

• Developing from a stimulus

• Scripts 2

Year 9 units of study include a focus on the key concepts of:

• Rosa Parks

• Devising as Brecht

• Blood Brothers

Key Stage 4

The course gives students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and skills in Drama and the Performing Arts by exploring a range of repertoire both from a theoretical and practical way. Students have the opportunity to select pieces of professional works to put together in solo and group performances as well as learn about a range of theatre practitioners and their influence on the theatre world.

Students will be assessed over 3 components set out by the exam board:

• Component 1: This internal unit is taught and marked by the teacher and externally moderated. Students explore three pieces of professional works through both written and workshop activities.

• Component 2: This internal unit is taught and marked by the teacher and externally moderated. Students will practically explore professional material and workshop their skills in the performing arts. They will be expected to keep a log of their developing skills with a final performance recording either as a soloist or in a group.

• Component 3: This is an externally set unit, consisting of an exam brief released each January of the final year of the course. Students are expected to work over a 12 week period preparing ideas, workshopping a performance and evaluating their work in response to the set brief.