GCSE Drama & Theatre Studies London

Why study GCSE Drama

GCSE Drama is about expression and creativity, collaboration, sharing stories and experiences, finding common ground, challenging and changing the way people think and scrutinising your own beliefs and behaviour. The skills you learn from this course go far beyond technique, analysis and writing. You will develop a greater sense of confidence, empathy and adventure that will serve you throughout your life. And it’s so much fun.

GCSE Drama at Ashbourne

Ashbourne’s dynamic performing arts department offers GCSE Drama students a fantastic opportunity to write and perform their own material, direct and design and try out a diverse range of theatre styles such as physical theatre, ensemble storytelling and puppetry. They also get to meet and work with professional actors and companies such as the acclaimed theatre groups Frantic Assembly and Complicité.

Ashbourne Revue
Drama students are invited to showcase their talents at the college’s annual performing arts event, the Ashbourne Revue. They will also put on their final exam pieces at the New Diorama Theatre, just off Regent’s Park, assisted by professional technicians and designers.

With such a superb selection of live performance on offer in London, students will get plenty of opportunities during the course to experience some great theatre.

Which syllabus do we follow?
Ashbourne follows the AQA syllabus for GCSE Drama.

Who teaches this course?
Jo-Lee Schwaeble
BA (Hons) Drama; BA Drama & Theatre Studies; PGCE (Stellenbosch University)

Jo-Lee is a very active member of Ashbourne community and is always ready to share her love for the arts and learning. She has high expectations for her students so they are challenged and alway striving for excellence. Her aim is to help them unlock their love of learning so that it will become a fulfilling, enjoyable and lifelong pursuit.

What is covered in this course?

This course combines the theory and practice of drama and theatre. It is split into three components: Understanding drama, Devising drama and Texts in practice.

You will expand your knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre in this component, studying Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers as the main text.

Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

Mikey and Edward, twins separated at birth, reunite at the age of seven and become Blood Brothers. As they get older differences in their social upbringing begin to create deep rifts in their relationship and ultimately lead to their tragic deaths.

Willy Russell’s musical is set in a time of social and political upheaval in 1960s Liverpool and addresses issues of injustice and social inequality.

Building structure, bringing pace and rhythm, exploring character behaviour, creating mood and atmosphere and understanding proxemics (positioning of actors on the stage) are just some of the techniques students will learn in order to create powerful theatre productions.

To bring depth and life to your performances you will draw on the social, cultural and historical contexts and conventions of the period in which plays were created. You will also explore how physical expression, audience rapport, props and effects, and other methods can help tell a story and convey meaning.

By exploring the roles of each member of the production – from playwright and performer to set designer and technician – you will get a broader understanding of how a production team works together. You will also get the chance to perform different roles offering insight into where your professional passions may lie in the future. You will develop an excellent grasp of theatre terminology like upstage, promenade and theatre in the round, and how to use it.

Tragedy, epic theatre, melodrama and physical theatre are just a few of the genres and styles you can choose from to create your own live performance. Taking inspiration from a poem, piece of sculpture or historical event, for example, you will explore and develop ideas that you will create into a final piece.

You can choose to be either performer or designer (e.g. sound, light, set, costume, puppet) in the production and will showcase your ability to convey meaning, apply your theatrical skills and fulfil your artistic intentions within your chosen role.

You will carry out your own research, develop ideas and continually analyse and evaluate your own progress in a written log as well as collaborate with others to plan, rehearse and fine tune your production.

The final assessed piece, either duologue or group, will be performed in front of a live audience.

Things I know to be true by Andrew Bovell

Bob and Fran have devoted themselves to their four children, offering them the opportunities they never had. Just when they are ready to sit back and and smell the roses of their success they are plunged into a family drama of unspoken truths and revelations.

Things I know to be true explores the complexity of family relationships and dynamics and of finding your own place in the world. It is set in Adelaide, Australia and was first performed there as a physical theatre production by Frantic Assembly and State Theatre of South Australia in 2016.

You choose your role as performer or designer (e.g. sound, light, set, costume, puppet), as part of a team, to perform two extracts from Andrew Bovell’s Things I know to be true. This gives you the chance to show off your skills of interpretation, ability to convey meaning and success in achieving what you set out to do.

A Levels at Ashbourne

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why should I study GCSE Drama?
GCSE Drama is about creativity, collaboration, and self-expression. It helps students develop confidence, empathy, and critical thinking while enjoying the fun of performance and storytelling.

2. What will I do in GCSE Drama at Ashbourne?
Students explore a wide range of theatre styles such as physical theatre, ensemble storytelling, and puppetry. They also have the chance to write and perform original material, direct productions, and work with professional actors and theatre companies.

3. Which exam board does Ashbourne use for GCSE Drama?
We follow the AQA syllabus for GCSE Drama, which includes both practical performance work and written analysis.

4. Do GCSE Drama students see live performances?
Yes. With Ashbourne’s central London location, students regularly attend professional theatre productions, which provide inspiration and insight into different performance styles.