Theatre

Group 6 subject 

Theatre is a dynamic and stimulating course that looks at all aspects of theatre. It is essentially a practical subject in that all theory is investigated by practical engagement. This active nature of the course makes it both exciting and challenging. Theatre students soon develop a passion and an intense commitment to the course, a commitment that brings both academic rewards and a sense of achievement.

Through the course students develop their independent learning skills through research, critical thinking and analytical skills through a study of practitioners and theorists, collaboration, negotiation and confidence skills through group devising and presentations, cultural awareness and empathy through study of world theatre. 

Course content

The Theatre syllabus comprises three areas: Theatre in Context, Theatre Processes, and Performing Theatre.

Grade 11

•  Completion of Research Presentation

• mask solo performance

• Introduction to Practitioners (HL only)

• physical comedy

• Brecht - political theatre

• introduction to devising techniques

• design

• performance skills

• world texts and traditions

• theatre production

• Introduction to a range of practitioners

• exploring performance from a directorial perspective – Production Proposal (complete section A)

• Complete section A of the Collaborative Project

Grade 12

• Collaborative Project

• Solo Theatre Piece (HL only)

• exploring performance from a directorial perspective – Production Proposal

Skills developed

During the course students:

• perform before an audience

• crew a production

• experience what the chief artists and craftsmen in the theatre do

• investigate performance theory and forms of theatre other than the western model

• work in an ensemble

• write and direct a piece of theatre

• research world theatre traditions

• learn to communicate effectively using signs and symbols other than the spoken word

• see and review a number of live professional productions and study the subject from an international perspective in terms of texts and traditions

• learn presentation skills

• learn collaboration and negotiation skills

Trip

There is a possibility of a curriculum trip every two years. This is four days for Grade 12 students (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) and three days for Grade 11 students (Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon).

The trip allows us to prepare in detail for our Internal Assessment (Collaborative Project) with Grade 12 students. This is a part of the curriculum that allows students to experience making performance – a requirement of the course. It happens end October or beginning November, exact dates will be confirmed and shared as early as possible. On the years we do not go on this trip, there will be a day off timetable to work on the Collaborative Project for Grade 12 students and a trip for those students involved in the Grade 11 and 12 co-curricular theatre production in Term 1 (open only to IB Theatre students). The next trip for all Theatre students is planned for November 2023. Should travel restrictions remain in place at that time, alternative arrangements will be made.

Assessment

SL external assessment – 70%

• Collaborative Project - 40%

• Research Presentation – 30%

SL internal assessment – 30%

• Production Proposal – 30%

HL external assessment – 80%

• Solo Theatre Piece – 35%

•  Collaborative Project - 25%

• Research Presentation – 20%

HL internal assessment – 20%

• Production Proposal – 20%

University courses and careers

Students who have taken this subject in recent years have gone on to follow courses in international relations, law, psychology, political studies, human resources, public relations, event management, business studies, hotel management, English and drama, media and communications studies, history, engineering and, of course, performance arts and theatre.