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Why study Drama and Theatre Studies?
Drama and Theatre Studies has become a highly respectable A level over the last decade and is valued by universities as a subject connected to both the Arts and the humanities. The balance of practical skills and academic knowledge help students to develop cross-curricular skills that include writing, speaking and the ability to analyse and organise information. It is also a subject that builds confidence and helps students to develop their interests and passions.
For many students, the most rewarding section of the course is the Live Practical Performance. In groups, students prepare a piece of drama to be staged in a professional theatre before a moderator and audience. AS (first year) Students prepare an excerpt from an existing play whilst A2 (second year) students write, direct, design and perform their own piece of original drama. This year, A2 students presented plays that exhibited a broad variety of skills and knowledge. In ‘The End of Innocence’ students used detailed research to create a verbatim piece of drama based on the life of Myra Hindley that explored the nature and the roots of violence. ‘Dark Actors Playing Games’ presented us with an example of Epic theatre that took on no less than Keynes’ attempt to refinance Britain at the end of the second World War, the fall of the Twin Towers and the unfortunate death of Dr David Kelly. The Hutton Enquiry staged as a musical was a particular highlight of this piece.
Which syllabus do we follow?
We follow AQA specification for Drama and Theatre Studies.
How many units are there?
There are four units in total: two at AS and two at A2
What is each unit about?
Unit 1
AS unit 1 is called ‘Live Theatre Production Seen and Prescribed Play’ This unit is divided into two sections. For section A students will see and respond to a wide range of live theatre productions. They will be required to consider many aspects of presentation including: theatrical style and genre; directorial interpretation; choice of venue; performance skills; language and movement; set design; costume and use of space. For section B students will study at least one play from a list of set texts. They will interpret the chosen play from a performance perspective, adopting the performance of a director, designer or actor and considering various aspects of staging and performance.
Unit 2
AS unit 2 is called ‘Presentation of an Extract from a Play’. Candidates will work in groups to present for an audience an extract from a published play of their choice. Candidates interpretation of their extract should be influenced by the work of an influential designer, director, theatre company or other practitioner.
Unit 3
A2 unit 3 is called ‘Further Prescribed Plays including Pre-Twentieth Century’. Candidates study at least two plays form a set list. One will be a pre-twentieth century play and one a twentieth century or contemporary drama. Candidates will explore the plays from a performance perspective and will be required to demonstrate a creative overview of their chosen text.
Unit 4
A2 unit 4 is called ‘Presentation of Devised Drama’ Candidates are required to work in groups to present for an audience a devised drama performed in a theatrical style of their choice. Playing time should be approximately 15-40 minutes depending on the number of acting candidates in the group. Each candidate must nominate for assessment a specific theatre skill as appropriate to the group aims and objectives.
How is each unit examined?
Unit 1
Students sit a 1 hour, 30 minute examination. There are two sections. In section A students respond to a live theatre performance seen during the course. In section B students answer questions on one of the set plays.
Unit 2
Students give a performance of an extract from a published play. The assessment also includes candidates’ preparatory and development work and supporting notes. This unit is examined by a tutor and moderated by an external examiner.
Unit 3
Students sit a 2 hour written exam. Students answer questions on two set plays.
Unit 4
Students give a performance of a devised drama. The assessment also includes candidates’ preparatory and development work and supporting notes. This unit is examined by a tutor and moderated by an external examiner.
When do the exams take place?
The final assessed performance takes place in May of the AS year and students sit the unit 1 examination in May/June. There is an opportunity to resit AS unit 1 in January of the A2 year. Unit 4, the final assessed performance takes place in May of the A2 year and students sit unit 3 in June of the A2 year.
Which Ashbourne teachers teach this course?
James Wykes
(MA Modern Literatures in English; Birkbeck, BA English )
After working in two well-known London colleges, James joined us in 2007. In his first year he made an outstanding contribution as Head of GCSE and has exceeded that performance in his role as Assistant Director of Studies. He is passionate about learning and plays a key role in the integration of English and Drama. Together with Breanne Grantham, he has inspired students to produce our first college newspaper, The Ashbourner, and is now one of the driving forces behind our Annual Christmas Revue
Frances Burns.
Fran has a B.A. from Liverpool and an M.F.A. in Drama from Ohio University in the USA. Originally from Glasgow, Fran has travelled extensively and lived and worked in America for several years. Fran began her career as a professional actress, working in theatre throughout the UK, Europe and the States, and began teaching only as a favour, covering her best friend's maternity leave. Teaching has remained her first love ever since, despite intermittent breaks in voice work, corporate training and at one of the country's leading Arts Education companies. She is now the Practical Drama teacher at Ashbourne.
Beyond A Level for Drama and Theatre Studies
Students Drama students have gone on to a variety of courses at University including English Literature, Economics, Film Studies and Maths. Several students have opted to take a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies at Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham Universities, and one recent student has moved on to Drama College and has already appeared in several productions in and around London.
Other information Drama and Theatre Studies is a theoretical subject as well as a practical one. In fact, sixty percent of the final mark is based on written examination.
Textbooks
AS
Title - Antigone
Author - Sophocles. Translated by Robert Fagels. (Penguin)
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/THREE-THEBAN-PLAYS-Sophocles/dp/0140444254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276163570&sr=8-1-spell
A2
Title - Antigone
Author - Sophocles. Translated by Robert Fagels. (Penguin) Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/THREE-THEBAN-PLAYS-Sophocles/dp/0140444254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276163570&sr=8-1-spell
Title - The Revenger’s Tragedy,
Author - Thomas Middleton / Cyril Tourneur. (Methuen Drama)
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revengers-Tragedy-Revels-Student-Editions/dp/0719043751/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276163706&sr=8-1
Title – A View from a Bridge
Author - Arthur Miller. (Penguin)
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/View-Bridge-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141183500/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276163830&sr=8-4
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