Drama and Theatre Studies

Course summary

Drama emphasizes practical creativity alongside research and theoretical understanding. Students learn through experience, seeing theatre and making theatre for themselves. Students 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, a designer (lighting, sound, set, costume, puppets), a director or a combination of these options. Whichever option they choose, students will gain many invaluable skills, both theatrical and transferable, to expand their horizons. What will you study? The A Level Drama course will be made up of three key components; Drama and Theatre, Creating original Drama and Making Theatre. Students will be required to study two complete and substantial performance texts and three key extracts from a range of texts spanning different social, historical and cultural periods in theatrical history. Two theatre practitioners are studied from a practical perspective. The focus will be on exploring their artistic intentions, their working methods and collaborations and applying them through practical exploration. Enrichment opportunities? This A Level is explored practically and theoretically. Students have opportunities to visit professional productions, at a reduced price, to develop greater insight into live theatre. We organise talks from professionals who have chosen a career path in Drama that allow students an opportunity to ask direct questions about their jobs. The Drama course aims to help students make decisions about University and further education. Students also have an opportunity to display their talents by performing in school productions and House Drama competitions. Where might it lead you? The AQA Drama course refines students’ collaborative skills, their analytical thinking and their approach to research. Students grow in confidence and maturity as they successfully work on their own creative ideas. Students learn to evaluate objectively and develop a sound appreciation of the influences that cultural and social contexts can have on decision making. Whatever the future holds, students of A level Drama emerge with a toolkit of transferable skills preparing them for their next steps.