Drama & Theatre Studies A Level     

 

Examination Board: Edexcel/OCR 

 

Who should take the course? 

 

You need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama.   You may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop your skills in some or all of these areas. Equally you will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies.

 

It is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and that you are keen to be involved with performances. You will also need to give out of school time for rehearsals and visits.

 

What is the course about?

 

The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. You will extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in performing or production role. You will also be required to write about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays and playwrights. 

 

Details of Subject content and assessment 

 

Drama and Theatre consists of a combination of written and performance work that is assessed internally by teaching staff (moderated external) and externally marked examination tasks.

 

Component 1: Devising (40% of the qualification)

There are two parts to the assessment:

 

  • A portfolio of evidence documenting the approach a practitioners has on theatre
  • A performance/design realisation: students present a performance that demonstrates the practitioner’s approach

This component is internally assessed by the Centre and externally moderated. 

 

Component 2: Text in Performance (20% of the qualification)

There are two parts to the assessment:

 

  • A group performance/design realisation of one key extract from a performance text.
  • A monologue or duologue performance/design realisation from one key extract from a different performance text.

This component is externally assessed by a visiting examiner. 

 

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice (40% of the qualification)

There are three parts to the assessment:

 

  • Section A: Live Theatre Evaluation. Student must write about their choice of a live theatre production they have seen.
  • Section B: Page to Stage. Students must write about a play they have studied and how they will realise the design and performance elements of an unseen extract.
  • Section C: Interpreting a Performance Text. Students must write about their own interpretation/re-imagining of a play they have studied and how their ideas have been influenced by a theatre practitioner. 

 

Where will it take me? 

 

This Advanced GCE can lead to further study in Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts in Higher Education at degree or HND level. It can be used as part of your course to broaden your studies and may lead on to a career in the media, performing arts and leisure industries. Drama and Theatre Studies Advanced GCE complements a range of subjects; it is useful in developing management skills and improving the presentation of information in a range of careers.