Drama & Theatre Studies
A Level Drama and Theatre
Students study a range of texts, exploring a number of theatrical styles, practitioners and / or theatre companies. The course is an academic subject taught through a practical approach. Students can choose to work as actors or designers in Components 2 and 3.
Component 1
Section A: Set Text - Drama Through the Ages. Section A explores a pre-twentieth century text, students have a choice from two questions where they demonstrate their knowledge of the play as a whole, writing as an actor, director or designer. Our current text is Antigone.
Section B: Set Text- 20th and 21st Century Drama. In Section B, students are given an extract from the text and three questions - one writing as an actor, one as a director and one as a designer. Our current text is Yerma.
Section C: Live Theatre analysis. In Section C, there is a choice from four questions. We will spend time during the course watching a variety of live performances, giving students choice as to the production they will focus on in the exam. Most recently we have seen Blood Brothers, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Teechers Reunion 2022.
Component 2 - Students devise their own play from a stimulus of their choice. They work in a specific theatrical style or influenced by a director or theatre company. Students can work as actors or designers.
Component 3 - Practical exploration and interpretation of three script extracts. Students work on three extracts from different plays, two of these are ‘workshop performances’ but Extract Three is a polished performance in the style of a recognised style, director or theatre company. Past Extract Three plays include Metamorphosis, The Trial, The Crucible, The Glass Menagerie and Chaos. Again, students can work as actors or designers.
A Level Drama and Theatre
AQA | Drama | A-level | Drama and Theatre
Enrichment
There are many opportunities for students to get involved in extra-curricular drama. Whole school production / musical production, fear in the Forest- Halloween event at Dalby Forest, Drama Club, House Drama, Year 5/6 Transition Project, The Young Americans, Live Theatre Visits including a Drama residential to London.
Useful Links:
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/
https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/
Videos
Meet Mrs Goodwill, Head of Drama, who discusses the course with some of our current Year 13 students
