Course Summary

GCSE Drama is a practical, active and varied course, which balances academic learning about theatre styles, plays and practitioners with challenging and exciting practical workshops and performances.

Students will study a range of established and contemporary practitioners, from Brecht to Frantic Assembly, linking these styles to texts from different writers and eras, such as Berkoff’s Metamorphosis or Pilot Theatre's adaptation of Noughts & Crosses. Practical tasks will build performance and technical abilities, while building vital, transferable skills such as, team work, confidence, independence, project management and resilience. The academic side of the course will require students to analyse and evaluate performance work, plays and the creative process. Students who have a passion for improving their performance and design skills and writing about theatre are encouraged to join #TeamDrama.

You will enjoy working practically and, In Y10, all students will be involved in group work and performance work. However, In Y11, while most learners will be assessed for their exam units as actors/performers, some students might opt to do set/prop design, costume design or lighting design. If this is something that interests you, you can discuss this with one of the drama team when you choose your options. If you wish to be a design candidate, you must be really good at working independently, and it would help if you had prior experience or skills in your chosen specialism.