Drama

Head of Department: Mrs Thompson

Why choose Drama?

• encourages students to explore and actively engage in a wide range of creative and stimulating activities to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring mind.
• develops and demonstrates competence in a range of practical, creative and performance skills.
• encourages students to work imaginatively and creatively in collaborative contexts, generating, developing and communicating ideas.
• provides a strong and appropriate foundation for further progression to Drama courses, including A-level Drama and Theatre Studies, and enhanced vocational and career pathways.

Content:

• Drama is a practical subject that covers a wide range of presentation skills. Students will be given opportunities to be involved in the following: Devised thematic work, acting performance, improvisation and theatre in education,
• Drama also has a written exam and students will be given the opportunity to practise written responses to practical work.

Activities:

Students will develop their performance skills and will have to work as part of a team. Drama depends entirely on collaboration and team work. There will be theatre visits in year 10 and 11 to prepare for the written exam and controlled assessment.

Skills:

• Expressing yourself in an active and exciting way
• Working in a group
• Contributing your own ideas and respecting those of others
• Exploring ideas by putting yourself in others shoes
• Playing many parts in different imaginary situations
• Creating your own drama work
• Looking at plays written by other people.

Homework activities:

• You will keep a written notebook of evidence to support your practical work
• You will prepare for a written exam
• You will be expected to participate in theatre trips throughout the two years
• You will need to rehearse outside lesson time.

Assessed coursework:

You will complete at least two controlled assessments over the course:

• Devised thematic work-based on a theme which contains elements of script-plays, verse or prose- and original work
• Acting performance: using a script
• Improvisation- a polished performance that is all the candidates original work
• Theatre in education; A piece of theatre with an educational message for a target audience

Examination entry requirements:

All practical and written coursework completed.

Parental contribution:

Support for theatre trips, public performances and homework.

Useful resources and equipment:

The AQA website