Drama & Theatre

Examining Body: Eduqas

Entry Criteria: Minimum of five grade 4 GCSE passes; these must include at least Grade 4 in Maths. Additionally, this course requires Grade 5 in English Language.

‘Academic lessons will help you get the interview and Drama lessons will help you get you the job.’ A Level Drama and Theatre equips you with employable skills that are highly desired by educational settings and future employers and are transferable to many different career choices. It develops your knowledge of performance and theatre design but also gives you valuable experience working in a practical way, creating scripted and devised work. The course can be assessed as a Performer OR Designer (Set, Costume, Lighting or Sound) depending on your choice.

Component 1 (20%):
Performer - You will develop and perform a reinterpretation of an extract from a play text. You will use the techniques and working methods of either a theatre practitioner or theatre company to shape your reimagination and you will produce a reflective log as you go through the process.
Designer - You will choose a design route (Set, Costume, Lighting or Sound) and design this element for the performance created above. You will present your ideas before the performance and produce a reflective log as you go through the process.

Component 2 (40%):
Performer - You will perform two pieces of theatre to a visiting examiner. The first performance will be an original piece devised by your group, using the working methods of a theatre practitioner or theatre company, in response to a stimulus given by the exam board. The second piece will be an extract from an existing play but performed in a different style to the original. You will produce a process and evaluation report about your performance.
Designer - You will choose a design route (Set, Costume, lighting or Sound) and will design for the two performances above. You will give a 5 to 10 minute presentation of your design to the examiner, explaining your ideas and your creation of the design element. You will produce a process and evaluation report about your performance.

Component 3 (40%): The written exam is made up of 3 sections, each section is about a different play text. Section A is based on a play written Pre-1956 and Section B is based on a play written Post-1956 and Section C is based on a modern play. We will study these in class, with both written and practical tasks to aid your understanding. In the exam, you will be asked essay style questions about how you would act, direct or design for these plays.

You do not have to have previously studied the subject to take this A Level.