Drama & Theatre

Year 12 Course Content

Component 1: Devising - In this component students will develop their creative and exploratory skills to devise an original performance. The starting point for this devising process will be an extract from a performance text and an influential theatre practitioner. Students will learn how text can be manipulated to communicate meaning to audiences and they will begin the process of interpretation. They will gain an understanding of how a new performance could be developed through the practical exploration of the style and use of conventions of the chosen practitioner.

There are three main areas of focus:

1. Interpreting, creating and developing a devised piece from one key extract from a performance text and applying the methods of one practitioner

2. A group performance/design realisation of the devised piece

3. Analysing and evaluating the creative process and devised performance.

Students will start to explore possible monologues/duologues and streamed Live Theatre for their Component 3 exam preparation for year 13.

Year 13 Course Content

Component 2: Text in Performance - Students will develop and demonstrate theatre-making skills, appropriate to their role as a performer or designer. They will explore how they realise artistic intentions in performance. The knowledge and understanding acquired through the study of one key extract from a performance text in Component 1 can be applied to assist in the interpretation, development and realisation of key extracts from performance texts.

There are two areas of focus:

1. A monologue or a duologue performance/design realisation from one key extract from one performance text

2. A group performance/design realisation of one key extract from a different performance text.

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice - This component requires students to consider, analyse and evaluate how different theatre makers create impact. Students will consider how production ideas and dramatic elements are communicated to an audience from the perspective of a director, a performer and a designer. They will critically analyse and evaluate their experience of live performance, deconstruct elements which will help inform their own production choices and develop their ideas. Students will practically explore texts in order to demonstrate how ideas for performance and production might be realised from page to stage, consider the methodologies of practitioners and interpret texts to justify their own ideas for a production concept. Students will research the original performance conditions and gain an understanding of how social, historical and cultural contexts have informed their decisions as theatre-makers.

There are three areas to be covered:

1. A live theatre evaluation

2. Page to stage: realisation of a complete performance text

3. Interpreting one complete performance text, in light of one practitioner, for a contemporary audience.

Assessment

There will be a written examination at the end of year 13 (Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Performance).  Other assessments include a written portfolio and performance (Component 1) which is internally assessed and externally moderated. At the end of year 13 students will receive a final A Level grade. It is important to note that the non-examined element of this course accounts for 60% of the exam grade and is a demanding aspect of the course.  All of the course units require a written and/or performance element and strict deadlines must be adhered to. Students are provided with written and practical support from staff through verbal, written and practical formats.