Drama & Theatre

Exam Board: AQA

You may consider studying Drama and Theatre* if you have an interest in theatre and plays, you like watching live theatre and reviewing its potential, you enjoy performing, improvising and learning on your feet and you have a lively mind, creative talent, a thirst for knowledge and are looking for a different approach to learning.

A Level Drama and Theatre is divided into three components: Drama and theatre, Creating original drama, Making theatre.

Guidance is also provided on the theatrical skills students will need to work on. In the practical components students may specialise in performing, lighting, sound, set, costume, puppets and/or directing. You will develop work from a variety of play texts and devise original work. Acting skills within different practitioner styles will be challenged and learnt. The main skills you will develop through the course are communication, confidence building and working as a group.

This qualification is linear, which means that students undertake all non-exam assessment (NEA) in the certification year and sit the written exam at the end of the course.

Studying Drama and Theatre can lead to University courses in: Performing Arts, Theatre, Drama and English, Stage School, Theatre Design or Technical Theatre courses, Personnel Management or Management Training. It can also lead to work as a performer, director, theatre designer, technical theatre, stage management, front of house, teacher, theatre critic, play writing, drama therapist, events management, and community theatre.

* This course is delivered in collaboration with the Melton Creative Arts Club

Assessment

Assessment is 60% practical and 40% written work over 3 Components.

Component One: Drama and Theatre—3 hour written paper (40% of the A Level)

Component Two: Creating Original Drama (practical)—30% of the A Level Devised Performance (20 marks)

Component Three: Making Theatre (practical)—30% of the A Level

Practical exploration and interpretation of 3 play extracts in which the methodologies of a drama practitioner must be applied to Extract 3 which is performed as a final assessment piece. The Reflective report analyses and evaluates the theatrical interpretation of all 3 extracts.