Drama
Drama provides a medium for personal exploration, social criticism, celebration and entertainment. It is explored through many dimensions but at the heart of what we do is the development of the individual; affording students the opportunity to explore and develop their sense of self in the world in which they live, through a style of teaching and learning that blends intellectual and emotional experience.
The study of Drama provides students with a range of transferrable skills that can be utilised in a variety of future applications. It also enhances their understanding of the world of work within the performing arts industry. Now and in the future, drama supports workers who are confident speakers, innovative and creative, inspirational thinkers, adept communicators and excellent team players. Drama allows students to push themselves out of their comfort zone, to be perceptive and empathetic to the world around them and ultimately explore performance and production elements.
Key Stage 3
Does the Drama Department follow the National Curriculum? |
No |
In Drama the students use stimuli from a range of plays and theatre productions such as War of the Worlds, Blood Brothers and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations to work collaboratively with others and develop both their practical and theoretical dramatic skills. Whilst performance is at the heart of the curriculum, students also have opportunities to script-write, analyse and evaluate live performance and understand all elements of stage production.
Key Stage 4
Drama is offered at GCSE and students follow the EDEXCEL specification. Over the two-year course, student’s study three components; Devising, Exploring Play Texts and Theatre Makers in Practice. In component 1, Devising, students are given stimuli such as social media or persecution and work in groups to devise a piece of theatre inspired by a theatre practitioner they have studied, e.g. Brecht/Frantic Assembly. They document their devising journey with a 2000 word written portfolio. Component 2, Exploring Play Texts, involves the students working on a monologue, duologue or group performance which is then assessed by a visiting examiner. Component 3, Theatre Makers in Practice, involves students studying a full-length play and evaluating a live performance for the exam element of the qualification.
For more information about the GCSE Drama specification then use this link.
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 we offer the RSL Level 3 Creative and Performing Arts course. This is a vocational course equivalent to 1 A Level and delivered in conjunction with the Music department. The course aims to offer practical, structured learning with the flexibility to specialise in all areas of the creative and performing arts industry; dance, acting and musical theatre. The students will study two core units; Performance Preparation and Planning for a career in the creative and performing arts, then have the option to choose 5 other units from the following, and including at least one from each of Acting, Dance and Music: approaches to acting, acting audition techniques, choreography, global dance styles, dance techniques, solo music performance, ensemble music performance, vocal techniques and music in theatre and dance.
For more information on the Level 3 qualification in Creative and Performing Arts use this link.