Eduqas GCE A Level in Drama and Theatre
A Level Drama & Theatre Specification
Drama and Theatre Studies is a popular and growing subject at Sutton Grammar and consistently achieves among the highest results of all subjects taken at the school. With lessons taking place in our purpose built Drama studios, students have access to the best technical facilities, and are guaranteed a challenging and enjoyable learning environment which offers creativity, plenty of practical work and ownership of the subject, away from rote learning and examination.
What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
It is useful to have taken Drama at GCSE level but not essential. Students have achieved very highly at Sutton Grammar who have not done Drama GCSE. It is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and that you are keen to be involved with performances.
What will I learn on this course?
The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. You will extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. You will also be required to write about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays and playwrights and visiting the theatre a great deal in order to evaluate the work of others for use in your own work.
What kind of student is this course suitable for?
You need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama. You may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop your skills in some or all of these areas. Equally you will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies.
Why should I do it?
Because you have enjoyed Drama up to this point and you have an interest and passion in carrying on. Just because you are doing A levels it does not mean you cannot enjoy learning anymore. In fact now you have greater choice; you should be aiming to enjoy it more.
Component 1: Theatre Workshop (20% internally assessed)
Students will study a full text and choose an extract to practically reinterpret in performance using the techniques and working methods of either an influential practitioner or a recognized theatre company. They will be assessed on both their practical performance as well as a written creative log which documents and evaluates their process.
Component 2: Text in Action (40% externally assessed)
Students will be assessed on two practical performances in this unit. One will be a devised piece which they will create as a result of exploring a stimulus provided by WJEC, the other will be a performance of an extract from another play text that they would have studied. Alongside these two practical performances, the students will also produce a process and evaluation report that will document their exploration and realisation of their performances.
Component 3: Text in Performance (40% externally assessed)
This is a written exam which is split into three sections. Sections A and B will assess the students’ knowledge and understanding of two complete theatre texts as well as their tasking them with creating their own interpretations of both for performance; one which is written pre 1956 and the other which is written post 1956. Section C of the exam will require the students to answer a series of questions about a prescribed extract from ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’.
The new A level specification is exciting and innovative and allows for a wider variety of texts to be studied as well as the exploration of numerous performance styles. The Eduqas specification in particular, encourages students to study a plethora of theatre practitioners and theatre companies and then apply this knowledge to their own performances, therefore solidifying their theoretical and practical understanding of Drama and Theatre.
The Value of Drama and Theatre Studies within and beyond the Sixth Form.
Doing Drama and Theatre Studies does not mean you have to become an actor, director or theatre designer but if you want to it is a good start. What it will give you is a different learning style, learning by doing and reflection, rather than learning by rote. During the course you will have to take a lot of responsibility for the decisions and choices you make and at all times you will be working collaboratively with others. The self-motivation required makes it ideal preparation for university life and there is not a profession in which collaborative skills are not required. Above all you have more control over what you do than in other subjects and will thoroughly enjoy the challenges that you are faced with. It will undoubtedly develop you into a more confident, sociable, charismatic and rounded individual and provide you with skills and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Drama and Theatre Studies will push and challenge in a way that other A level subjects cannot and provide a level of enjoyment in your learning that is unparalleled. Doing A level Drama will not prevent you from going on to university to study whatever you want, wherever you want.
Mrs Peters
Director of Drama