KS5



A Level Drama and Theatre Studies:

The Drama and Theatre course offers you the opportunity to explore drama as a practical art form, in which ideas and meaning are communicated to an audience through choices of form, style and convention. You will create, perform and respond to drama and theatre. In addition you will develop creativity and independence to become an effective theatre maker. It is vital to highlight that the course explores the relationship between theory and practice in a range of theatrical styles and periods and historical, social and cultural contexts. As a theatre student you will have the opportunity to learn how relevant research, independent thought and analysis of live theatre productions can inform decision making in their practical work and put this understanding into practice.

A Level Course Content:

Component 1: Drama and Theatre (Written Exam: 40%)

You will study two play-texts and analyse and evaluate a Live Theatre Production. It is split into three sections; Section A, Section B, Section C.

Component 2: Creating Original Drama (Practical Exam: Internal: 30%)

  • Practically explore a variety of practitioners

  • Devise and perform a performance in the style of one your chosen working practitioners.

  • In addition to the performance, you will be marked on an accompanying working notebook of the process and decisions made whilst creating and developing your performance. (Theory aspect)

DESIGNER ROUTE AVAILABLE

Component 3: Making Theatre (Practical: Visiting Examiner: 30%)

  • Practically explore and interpret THREE extracts; each extract is taken from a different play.

  • With extract three a practitioners methodologies will be applied, and this will be a different practitioner to the one used in Component 2.

  • You will also be required to produce an accompanying Reflective Report which outlines your intentions for all three performances. (Theory aspect)

DESIGNER ROUTE AVAILABLE

How will I be assessed?

Component 1: (Worth 40%) Written Examination lasting 3 hours and worth 80 marks. Exam taken at the end of Year 13 marked externally by an examiner. It is an open book that is split into three sections;

Section A - One question, your choice, on Hedda Gabler - Ibsen from the perspective of a performer, designer or director worth 25 marks.

Section B - One three part question on a given extract from Metamophosis - Berkoff from the perspective of how the play has been constructed to be performed and to communicate meaning / how the play is informed by its social, cultural and historical context. Worth 30 marks

Section C - You will be posed ONE question that will require them to analyse and evaluate the Live work they have seen. Worth 25 marks

Examined by AQA examiners

Component 2: (Worth 30%) You will be examined on your devised performance as either a performer, director or a designer and the performance is worth 20 marks. You will need evidence of the working methodologies of one influential practitioner in your work. In addition you will complete a working notebook to evidence your ability to analyse and evaluate the devising process. This is worth 40 marks. The Non-examined assessment unit is internally assessed and externally moderated by the exam board.

Component 3: (Worth 30%) You will practically explore and interpret three extracts each taken from different playtexts as a performer, designer or director. The methodology of a working practitioner is applied to Extract 3; it must be a contrasting practitioner to Component 2. You will also be required to write a reflective report analysing and evaluating the theatrical interpretation of all three extracts. Extract 3 only examined by an AQA visiting examiner.

What could I do next?

Following successful completion of the course you could further your studies by applying for University or Conservatoires that specialise in Drama, Performance, Technical Theatre and Theatre studies. By applying for courses that will continue to develop your skills and knowledge it will open doors to other training opportunities and career routes, such as; a masters, education, critical writing and therapy, as well as, working in theatres.

If you would rather choose immediate employment then this course may support you in applications to theatre settings; apprenticeship roles within the theatre or theatre companies. The skills you will develop from this course will support you in any job role.

Entry Requirements

Students must achieve a minimum of a level 5 in both Drama and English. Ideally a level 6 due to the vast amount of theoretical work that is now within the course. Due to the heavy weighting of marks on the written aspect it would be recommended that students have well-developed writing techniques.

Study Resources

Playtexts will be selected by the group that have chosen that year and will be shared with you the summer before you begin the course. Practitioner books; The Frantic Assembly book of Devising, Brecht for Beginners - Micheal Thoss, The Director's Craft - Katie Mitchel.