A Level Drama and Theatre Studies

Examination Board : Edexcel

Studying Drama and Theatre allows you to develop a range of practical performance and workshop skills.   You will be required to “think on your feet” and use your emotional intelligence to get the best out of people. You will have to create a communicated message according to a deadline and a set of criteria. Your analytical skills will be stretched as you consider how a text can be brought to life; you need to express your creative ideas in a coherent and convincing manner, drawing on your researched knowledge of influential practitioners.   You will develop essay writing skills. 

Students take part in a range of practical performance workshops, exploring play texts and theatre practitioners. We run a number of theatre trips to get a sense of the professional world and broaden the knowledge of different performance styles.

A Level Drama and Theatre Studies gives students the opportunity to develop skills as a performer, director and theatre practitioner.   You will be assessed in these 3 key areas:

• Creating your own group devised performance and keeping a written portfolio to reflect on the artistic decisions that you have made. This is an internally assessed unit which tests your ability to think creatively, shape your own ideas, work within a team and identify how performance techniques and knowledge of other practitioners have influenced your work. (40%)

1. Taking part in two practical performance exams directed by your teacher:

- a monologue or duologue from a published play (3-5 minutes)

- a group extract from a published play  (15-20 minutes)

You will be assessed on your ability to create character through voice and movement and your awareness of communicating to an audience. (20%)

3. A written examination which asks you to consider two set play texts from the point of view of an actor, director and designer. You will need to show your ability to structure essays with direct arguments, provide textual evidence and demonstrate your knowledge of established theatre practitioners. (40%)  

30% of your overall grade is based on practical work (20% assessed by an external examiner, 10% internally assessed)

70% of your overall grade is based on written work (40% externally assessed, 30% internally assessed as a coursework portfolio)