A Level Drama and Theatre Studies
Areas covered within the specification: the course has three components to it. Component 1 is a devised unit which is 40% of the course. For this unit, students will be expected to study the play Metamorphosis identifying key themes and issues explored within the play. They will then need to create a devised performance based on their research using Frantic Assembly techniques and style. To accompany the performance which will be internally marked and assessed, the students will need to complete a 2500-3000 word essay which outlines their research and records their process and decisions made throughout the rehearsals. Component 2 is a scripted unit. This is worth 20% of the course. Students will take part in a group performance of Our Country’s Good or 4.48 Psychosis. They will also choose a monologue.
Students will rehearse these and perform them to an external examiner. Component 3 is a written exam. For this unit, Students will study 2 plays, Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Hedda Gabler. They will learn how theatre makers would put these plays on as successful performances. Students will also have to watch a live theatre show (in the past, we have taken them to see ‘The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time’) and they will have to review this performance in response to statements asked in the final exam paper.
students are expected to complete both written and practical homework, whether that’s learning lines, sourcing sound and music for productions, gathering appropriate props and costume, completing PowerPoints and flashcards for performance presentations, written research from the internet or other book sources put into their own words, practise exam questions or improvement on 3000 word essay for component 1.
Trips / Visits
Students will be expected to go on at least 1 trip in order to answer the first section of their exam paper for component 3. Other trips and visits will be offered to them as and when theatre productions come up.
All of the course will be delivered in a very practical way! Hedda Gabler and Accidental Anarchist will be explored practically in the first year. Students will complete performance presentations of these plays. This way, they will have flashcards created ready to revise from in year 2. The devised unit will start in the summer term of year 1 where the students will start to research the play and the playwright Kafka. They will start to create their own storylines and take part in Frantic Assembly workshops. In year 2, the students will perform their devised performance and complete their coursework and then start work on their scripted pieces. This will leave the summer term to recap the exam paper and practice exam technique.