Drama
Overview
GCSE Drama offers students the opportunity to explore and perform scripts practically, create original performances, and understand how plays are created and performed within theatre. Students learn to collaborate with others, think analytically and critically, gain confidence to pursue their own ideas, to inspire and creatively develop their peer’s ideas and to refine their ability to believably perform and communicate in front of others.
Students explore two scripts in detail, learning about themes, characters, stagecraft and effective performance through practical activities. Students will also devise and create their own performance work, to be shown to an audience, with an accompanying log where they analyse and evaluate the success of their creation; including just what impact theatre can have on an audience.
Whatever the future holds, Drama GCSE students emerge with a toolkit of invaluable, transferable skills that will be applicable to both further studies and the workplace; having shown resilience, creativity and faced positive challenges and having been inspired to become creative in their communication with the world and people around them.
Topics covered
Drama allows students to develop their emotional intelligence and to step into the shoes of others to understand what motivates people to behave in the way they do. Students are taught through a range or practical and theoretical lessons, which cover:
Playscript (Blood Brothers) practical exploration and written interpretation
Live Theatre Viewing and Analysis
The Roles of Theatre Makers, Staging Types and Positions.
Devised Theatre - how to inspire, research, create and perform original theatre
Scripted Performance - how to interpret, develop and perform a role from either classic or contemporary scripted plays.
Assessments
Component 1: Understanding Drama – 40%: Final written exam in Year 11
● Four Multiple choice questions on Theatre Roles & Responsibilities
● Four questions on a studied set text – Blood Brothers
● One question on the evaluation of the work of live theatre makers
Component 2: Devising Drama – 40%
Students are assessed on the process of creating devised drama, performance of a piece of devised drama (students may contribute as performer or designer) and their analysis and evaluation of their own devised work.
Component 3: Texts in Practice – 20%
Two performance (monologue/duologue/group performance) extracts from one play, performed to an external examiner. The play performed must not be a similar style to the set text studied for the written exam.
FAQs
What do we study?
At GCSE, we study three topics in Drama. These are:
Devising Drama - you create your own twenty minute performance based on your research around inspirational stories and you write a Devising Log, where you discuss your research, your rehearsal and performance development/collaboration and evaluate the final performance.
Texts in Practice - you get to perform two extracts from one script, which you choose with your teacher’s full guidance. These two performances can be any combination of a monologue, duologue or group work.
Written Exam - here you complete answers on designing and performing one part of the play Blood Brothers and evaluate acting skills in a live theatre performance you have seen.
If I pick Drama, how will it help me if I don’t want to be an actor?
Drama is a challenging, creative and collaborative GCSE to take, where you get to develop your performance skills and understanding of scripts, characters, professional theatre roles and creative communication. When creating Drama performances, we don’t just ask you to develop your acting skills. We ask you to look at the world, stories, people and relationships around you and respond creatively, often with empathy or with a point to make. We also encourage students to step over and above their comfort zones and they comment upon how much they have benefitted from developed confidence. Students finish the course proud of what they have achieved, with improved social, communication and teamwork skills. We are told that GCSE Drama is really fun, and is often a lesson where students feel a physical and creative freedom, which they look forward to all week!
What have past students got to say about Drama GCSE?
Here are some examples of feedback from students who have recently finished Drama GCSE:
"Drama helps us grow in confidence, whether it be physically in our performances or mentally with our written work. It's a great help for other lessons.”
‘’I really appreciated the feeling of support and independence Drama made me feel’’
“I love doing drama GCSE because I have made loads of new friends while doing something I am passionate about”
"I look forward to doing drama all week, it’s so much fun and has given me so much confidence. It’s something I love to do and passionate about, I would definitely recommend it.’’
Is Drama GCSE hard?
If you enjoy Drama then you will really enjoy what is in store for you in Year 9 onwards, particularly as you will be learning with like-minded students who have all actively chosen to take Drama and are keen to move creative ideas forward in lesson time. We take a very serious stance that our Drama classes must be supportive of every student, that you must congratulate, support and encourage one another with the risks you are taking. These performance challenges and the written content can be hard - it takes time to rehearse outside of lessons (but we think this is a great use of free time and helps you develop incredible friendships) and the written content is new, creative and can be challenging.
Do I have to write lots?
There is written work to be completed as part of the course, including a written exam that is worth 40%. You have to complete written work during lessons and for homework, however this work is linked to practical performance work we create throughout the three years of the course, and you are asked to write using the performance skills you have learnt.
Is the written work like English work?
The written work you complete is not analysis of style, characters or storyline. Instead, you are asked to write as an actor. For example, you have to explain how you would perform a line from a script, using specific vocal or physical skills and explain why those choices are suitable for the character. Or you have to describe what costume or set design you would use at a particular moment in a play.
I am not very confident performing in front of others but I do like the subject, should I still take Drama?
Whilst the course certainly does develop student’s confidence, it can be a difficult subject if you are shy and do not like performing in front of others. If you suffer from stage fright, you will need to think seriously if that is because you are in front of your tutor group currently or if you think you would feel that way performing in front of anyone. There is an option to take a designer role, instead of performance, for examination components of the course. However, this is mainly in Year 11 and you will need to perform lots in Year 9 and 10.
I love the thought of continuing Drama, but prefer to work alone. Do I have to work in a group?
The Drama GCSE is a collaborative course. Lesson learning activities and the Devised component demands that students work as part of a group.
How many written exams do we have to do?
You complete one written paper, which lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes, in the summer of your final GCSE examination period.
What can I do with GCSE Drama? (In terms of A-levels, Careers etc)
Drama GCSE is a highly regarded subject that can help with written, creative and communication skills in a vast number of subjects. Several students go on to continue with A-Levels courses in Drama or indeed have Drama complement their choice to further study in English Literature, English Language, Media, Psychology, Sociology, Languages and other Expressive Arts subjects.
Drama GCSE also develops a large number of skills that employers are looking for in a vast number of jobs - collaborative thinking, inventiveness, being able to pick and work with the best ideas, listening, communicating, creativity, justification, debating, rationalising, analysing, to name but a few. Examples of careers where these skills are needed are: Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Writer, HR, PR, Reporter, Journalist, Television and Film Industry, Creative Media, Management - to name but a few.
Is Drama right for me?
It has to be you that answers this question. However think about the following questions:
Do you have a passion, determination and drive for Drama?
Do you enjoy thinking with curiosity about the world around you?
Do you enjoy reading and performing plays, seeing live theatre and being in awe of creativity in others?
Do you want to share your creativity and interpretations with others?
If the answer is yes, then Drama is the choice for you!