Is this subject right for me?

Do you enjoy working creatively in drama? An enjoyment of the subject is a good place to start! Drama students are creative, innovative, collaborative workers, analytical thinkers and self-motivated. They have life skills valued by employers and for university entrance.

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

Drama GCSE is for all students who can work in teams, work with self-discipline and are creative and imaginative. You need to enjoy acting and be able to write well. Often in Drama you are dependent on each other, and we expect students to undertake rehearsals in their own time when preparing for practical assessments.

What will I learn?

You will learn life skills of negotiation, meeting deadlines and confidence. Part of your work includes acting, working as a production team to translate page to stage. You should improve your performance skills; working on interaction, physicality, vocal tone and developing and sustaining a characterisation. You will take part in assessed lessons working on a theme and a play text. Part of your work will be writing coursework in a portfolio format and answering questions on an unseen extract in a written exam.

Where could it lead?

After GCSE you can continue with Theatre Studies at A Level. Drama opens the way to many university courses and careers within the theatre, both performing and backstage. Drama students are highly valued for other courses and careers for their abilities and attitudes.

Assessment Summary

Component 1: Devising. 40% of the qualification – 60 marks – internally assessed

▪ You will create and develop a devised performance from stimulus

▪ Analyse and evaluate the devising process and performance

Component 2: Performance from Text. 20% of the qualification – 48 marks – externally assessed

▪ You will perform in two key extracts from a performance text, which is a contrasting text to component 3

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice. 40% of the qualification – 60 marks – externally assessed

▪ Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes

Section A: Bringing Texts to Life – consists of one question, broken into five parts, based on an unseen extract from the chosen performance text. Notes are not allowed to be taken into the exam. Currently we are looking at The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation – You will answer two questions analysing a live theatre performance that you have seen. You can take up to 500 words of notes into the exam.

Exam Board

▪ Edexcel