A Level Drama & Theatre Studies

The A / AS level in Drama & Theatre Studies enables a student to further develop their experiences of the theatrical world; exploring the work of different practitioners and looking at the concept of the theatre from a variety of different viewpoints. The course requires the students to explore practical and theoretical elements of the theatrical world and, as well as developing their theoretical knowledge, it seeks to develop their ability to synthesize, evaluate and analyse the work of a variety of performers, practitioners and writers.

AS Level

Component 1 – Exploration and Performance: In this unit, students will create two practical performances that includes a group performance of one key extract from a play as well as a performance of a  monologue or duologue from a different text. This work is supported by a written or verbal portfolio.

Component 2 – Theatre Makers in Practice: This is the written examination and consists of three sections. Section A requires the students to complete a live theatre evaluation and sections B requires the students to discuss the set text from the perspective of  the director, director and designer.

A Level

Component 1 – Devising: In this unit, students will work in groups to create a group devised performance in response to a given stimulus and will create a supporting porting portfolio

Component 2 – Text in Performance: In this unit, students will create two practical performances that includes a group performance of one key extract from a play as well as a performance of a monologue or duologue from a different text

Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice: This is the written examination and consists of three sections. Section A requires the students to complete a live theatre evaluation and sections B and C require the students to discuss two different texts as the director, designer and performer

Assessment

AS Level:

Component 1: Exploration and Performance (60%)

Component 2: Written Examination (40%)

A Level:

Component 1: Devising (40%)

Component 2: Text in Performance (20%)

Component 3: Written Examination (40%)

Progression Routes

Students with an A level in Drama & Theatre Studies can progress on to Higher/Further Education or Apprenticeship and can look to progress into the following employment sectors:

• Arts, Media and Publishing

• Languages, Literature and Culture

• Education and Training

• Health, Public Services and Well Being

• Retail and Commercial Enterprises

• Leisure, Travel and Tourism

• Social Sciences

Additional Information

During the course of the A Level, students are encouraged to attend as much live theatre as is possible a this will help to inform every element of the practical examination as well as feed into the Live Theatre Evaluation element of the written examination.