AS Drama and Theatre Studies
This subject may be offered at more than one Southern Consortium school site. The teaching of this subject may be at any one of the sites listed below.
The information on this webpage is a guide only. Topics, units and course content may vary from those listed below.
AS Drama and Theatre Studies @ JRCS
Outline of the course
Drama is about instinct and the human condition; plays and the world of theatre reflect this. This course combines the activities of exploring plays, creating theatre, the performing of plays, the analysis of theatre and the critical evaluation of all these elements. This course provides the right balance between practical and theory work and the course content and units of assessment are appropriate and accessible to all levels of ability.
To complete this course a GCSE in Drama is desirable but not a necessity. However, to get the most from this course you need to possess a keen interest in seeing live performance and indeed care about making drama.
Skills you will develop include:
- A thorough understanding of drama and the theatre
- Highly toned analytical skills
- Highly toned creative and performing skills
- An ability to communicate effectively with others
|
AS level |
Name |
Details |
|
Unit 1 |
Exploration of drama and theatre Exploration of 2 plays chosen by the centre |
Detailed study of 2 plays from the point of view of performers, designers and directors. Students demonstrate their interpretation and understanding through practical workshops and coursework 15% internally assessed / externally moderated coursework |
|
Unit 2 |
Text in performance I A practical examination of acting or design skills in a teacher directed production of a play
|
Students will be assessed on the effective use of performing or design skills as applied to the text and the way in which they communicate their interpretation to an audience 20% externally assessed practical |
|
Unit 3 |
Text in context I 2 exam questions. One question based on the context of the play performed in Unit 2 and one question on a play you have seen at the theatre
|
Students will be able to take ‘context summary notes’ they have made about the play performed in Unit 2 and their ‘performance analysis notes’ of a ‘live’ theatre production they will have been taken to see during the year. 15% externally assessed 2 hour written paper
|
|
A2 level |
Name |
Details |
|
Unit 4 |
Devising Teacher assessment of the making and performing of a devised piece of theatre
|
Students work on an original piece of drama for presentation to an audience. Each student will keep a ‘structured record’ that enables them to reflect upon the process. The teacher mark will reflect the student’s achievement both during the process and the final performance. 20% internally assessed / externally moderated structured record |
|
Unit 5 |
Text in Performance II Workshop presentation of a student directed play
|
Students will explore a chosen play and select an appropriate scene or montage of scenes to demonstrate the essence of their interpretation in a workshop performance. Students can be assessed as a performer, designer or as a director. 15% externally assessed practical |
|
Unit 6 |
Text in Context II 3 examination questions based on the study of 2 prescribed plays. Section A is based on a director’s approach to a play and Scetion B is based on performance analysis and research.
|
For this unit students will have studied and practically explored one of the prescribed plays in depth. They will go into the exam with an idea of how they might direct the play-in the exam they will relate their ideas for the whole play to an extract and articulate their knowledge of the social, cultural and/or historical contexts of the play. They will also be required to compare 2 different versions of a play they have seen and researched and evaluate the effectiveness of the way in which the medium of drama has been used to create the performances 15% externally assessed 2 ½ hour written paper
|
Careers and further study
- This course works well in combination with several AS/A2 level subjects but particularly compliments English, Media Studies, Music, Dance, History and Sociology based subjects.
- This course has the support of higher education institutions as a specialist qualification for drama, theatre or performing arts related courses but equally it provides a worthwhile experience for students wishing to use it as part of the entry requirements into other subject areas.
- It is an excellent qualification for students wishing to pursue a career that involves communication and people orientated skills.
- This course is designed to be part of the Edexcel Level 3 Performing Arts sector suite of qualifications by providing a general qualification route into higher education.