Course Description

Studying Drama at GCSE will include the practical study and performance of play texts, the development of acting, directing and devising skills and the acquisition of knowledge to effectively analyse and evaluate performance. The ideal student will enjoy being creative and work effectively in a team, contributing their own ideas and be able to consider and take on opinions from others.

Qualification aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

• apply knowledge and understanding when making, performing and responding to drama

• explore performance texts, understanding their social, cultural and historical context, including the theatrical conventions of the period in which they were created

• develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performances

• work collaboratively to generate, develop and communicate ideas

• develop as creative, effective, independent and reflective students able to make informed choices in process and performance

• contribute as an individual to a theatrical performance

• reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others

• develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and processes undertaken in contemporary professional theatre practice

• adopt safe working practices.

Course Outline

Unit 1 Devising (40%)

Students will work in a group to create and develop ideas to devise a piece of Drama. They will perform this piece of work and produce a written portfolio detailing the devising process and evaluating their decisions. They will be assessed on both their performance and their portfolio. This unit is marked by their teachers and moderated by the exam board.

Unit 2 Performance of Text (20%)

Students will interpret and explore a performance text and perform 2 extracts from it to an external examiner.

Unit 3 Written Exam (40%)

Students will study a set play from the position of both a performer and a designer and answer questions on the play in an exam. Students will also watch a piece of live theatre before the exam and then write a review of the play they have seen in the exam. The set play is DNA by Dennis Kelly.

Is this the course for me?

You must enjoy performing

You must like group work

You must like devising and performing your own work

You must enjoy learning lines and performing existing plays

You must like writing about Drama

You must be prepared to rehearse outside lessons

You must be prepared to write coursework outside lessons

You must be prepared for a written exam

Qualification: GCSE in Drama (Edexcel)

Director of Learning: Miss A Creed

alice.creed@riddlesdown.org