AS and A-Level Drama
Edexcel AS Level and A Level in Drama and Theatre Studies
This course combines the analysis of plays, the creation theatre, the performance of plays and the critical evaluation of all these elements. At the end of the course students will have a thorough understanding of drama and theatre, highly toned analytical and creative skills and an ability to communicate effectively with others.
Autumn term
Unit 1 40% : Exploration of Drama and Theatre
This unit introduces students to the content of plays written for the theatre. They will learn how to analyse plays in a variety of ways so that they become familiar with the way plays can be interpreted for realization in performance.
• Exploration of Drama and Theatre - practical workshops and written exploration notes. Assessment is internal although work is moderated externally.
Play studied: ‘Mother Courage and her Children' - Brecht
• Exploration of Drama and Theatre - practical workshops and written exploration notes. Assessment is internal although work is moderated externally.
Play studied: ‘A Doll's House' - Ibsen
This unit also includes a theatre trip to London, requiring a 'live theatre written evaluation'.
Spring term
Unit 2 60% : Theatre Text in Performance
This unit offers students the chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment. The knowledge and understanding gained during the study of two plays in Unit 1 is now applied to a performance to an audience.
• Theatre text in context
Section A - performing a monologue or a dialogue, or design elements for performance. This is externally examined.
• Theatre text in context
Section B - performing a play, with teacher as director
This is also externally examined.
Summer term
•Acting workshop on the system of Stanislavski
•Devised workshop, focusing on Artaud
A-Level Drama (Year 13)
Autumn Term
Unit 3 - Exploration of Dramatic Performance - 40 % of A2 Year
Course Code: 6DR03
This unit requires the creation of a unique and original piece of theatre. The knowledge and understanding gained in the AS units can now be applied to a created finished production. Students will be assessed on both the process of creation and the finished product in the form of a performance to an invited audience.
Students are required to document, reflect and evaluate the process and evaluate the final performance. Students are internally assessed for both the performance and written evidence.
Spring and Summer Term
Unit 4 Theatre in Context - 60% of A2 year
Course Code: 6DR04
This externally examined written unit requires the detailed study, through practical workshops, of one set play text, (either Woyzeck by Georg Buchner, Lysistrata by Aristophanes or Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe) and one prescribed historical period of theatrical development.
This 2 and a half hour written paper has three sections. Section A and B require the student to explore the set play text from the point of view of a director in both and academic and practical way. In Section C a live performance from a chosen period must be experienced and evaluated and a comparison made with its original performance conditions.
In order to cover the requirements of Section C this unit includes a theatre trip to London in the Autumn term.
