A Level Drama

Kings Ely sixth form

Academic

A Level Drama & Theatre

King’s has an outstanding Drama and Theatre department with a long history of being a valuable and distinguished part of school life. 

 

A Level Drama and Theatre pupils have achieved 100% A*-B for the past 5 years and in 2015 pupils achieved 100% A*. 

Drama and Theatre is a thoroughly challenging, enjoyable and rewarding A Level where candidates learn through experience, seeing theatre and making theatre for themselves. They are introduced to a wide range of theatrical styles and contexts as they explore plays practically, devise and work on performances.

Students choose to develop as a:

  • Performer
  • Designer (lighting, sound, set, costume, puppets)
  • Director
  • Combination of these.

The department drives to better itself each year with new facilities, first-class productions, accessible courses for all, high standards of teaching, and extra-curricular events and clubs. We aim to stimulate and challenge the minds of all students and develop new skills in all aspects of performance and theatre work. 

Prerequisite

It is not necessary to have taken GCSE Drama, but a passion for theatre and some experience in performance/design would be an advantage.
Topic Overview

 

Component 1: Drama & Theatre
  • Develop knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre.
  • Study two set plays: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.
  • Visit the theatre and learn how to analyse and evaluate the work of theatre makers.
Component 2: Creating Original Drama
  • Learn about the artistic intentions and working methodologies of a key theatre practitioner.
  • Use your knowledge of the theatre practitioner to create and perform a piece of devised drama (students may contribute as performer, designer or director).
Component 3: Making Theatre
  • Learn about the artistic intentions and working methodologies of key theatre practitioners.
  • Engage in practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts each taken from a different play.
  • Apply your knowledge of a chosen theatre practitioner to a final assessed performance of extract 3 (students may contribute as performer, designer or director).
Assessment 

 

Component 1: Drama & Theatre
  • Section A: Choose one question on a set play studied. (25 marks)
  • Section B: One three part question on a given extract on another set play studied. (30 marks)
  • Section C: One question (from a choice) of the work of theatre makers in a single live production seen. (25 marks)  

Written examination: 3 hours - 40% of marks

Component 2: Creating Original Drama (practical)
  • You will create your own devised piece of drama, which must be influenced by the work and methodologies on one prescribed practitioner.
  • You will create a working notebook during the process of creating the devised drama. (40 marks).
  • Performance of devised drama (students may contribute as performer, designer or director). (20 marks).

30% of marks 

Component 3: Making Theatre 
  • Practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts (Extract 1, 2 and 3) each taken from a different play. The methodologies of a prescribed practitioner will be applied to Extract 3.
  • Extract 3 is to be performed as a final assessed piece (students may contribute as performer, designer or director). (40 marks)
  • Reflective report analysing and evaluating theatrical interpretation of all three extracts. (20 marks)

30% of marks 

Drama A Level Exam Specification

 

Meet the director of drama & theatre

Jane Parker

EMAIL ELISABETH TYRRELL


 
 

 

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