Drama and Theatre

Course summary

Over the course students have to work practically exploring and studying five different play texts and the work of at least two different theatre practitioners. Students may offer performance support of design skills in the practical exams and everyone has to answer questions on elements of stage design as well as acting and directing. There are three components to the A Level: 1. Devising a group project based on a play extract and key practitioner (e.g. Brecht, Frantic Assembly) with a performance and Devising portfolio worth 40%, marked internally and moderated by the exam board 2. Performance of scripted material in a group performance and a monologue or duologue from a different text worth 20% marked by an external examiner 3. Written Exam “Theatre Makers in Practice” – 2 hours 30 minutes, 40%. - Section A: Live theatre review, 500 words of accompanying notes allowed. - Section B: Two questions on a modern play (Machinal, Accidental Death, etc.) from perspective of performer or designer. Closed book. - Section C: One extended question on re-imagining a classic text (Hedda Gabler, Woyzeck, etc.) with a practitioner’s influence (Stanislavski, Artaud, etc.). Open clean book allowed.