Contact : Miss B Francis	Exam Board & Code : AQA  AS 5241, A2 6241
Course : 2 Years to full A level

   

What is Drama and Theatre Studies A level about?

This course will develop your understanding and appreciation of theatre practice through your own engagement with the medium as both a participant and an informed audience member. It will also improve your performance and production skills and help you to analyse the ways in which different performance and production elements are brought together to create theatre.

 

Is this course for me?

This is definitely the course for you if you have studied Drama to GCSE level and have a real passion for theatre and performance.   This course does require you to have lots of energy as you will have to write essays and spend a great deal of your own time rehearsing your performance work after school.

 

What else do I need to know?

Students are encouraged to purchase their set texts from the department as candidates are allowed to take annotated texts into the written examinations.  Theatre going is an essential part of the course and students are expected to see a wide variety of performance work. The average cost of a  trip to the theatre is £18.00.   

 

What do other students say?

“Exciting and challenging…an excellent balance of practical and academic work.”

“A thought-provoking and stimulating experience, drawing out emotions, ideas and opinions.”

Where could it lead?

Past A level Drama and Theatre Studies students have gone on to Degree Courses in Drama (Exeter University and University of Kent) ,English and History (Oxford University), Spanish and Drama (Hull University)  and Drama School.

 

 

How is this course structured? 

Unit Content	Unit Assessment
AS Unit 1: A:  Response to live theatre – you will be asked to respond to various aspects of live theatre seen during the course B:  Study of one set play - you will be asked to discuss your interpretation of the play from a performance perspective, adopting the viewpoint of an actor, director or designer.	Written Examination - Externally set and assessed Written  Examination - Externally set and assessed 60% of total AS marks / 30% of total A Level marks
AS Unit 2: Presentation of an Extract from a Play – as a group you will present and perform a short continuous extract from a published play lasting approximately 30- 40 minutes.	Practical Examination - Internally assessed and externally moderated by a visiting moderator40% of total AS marks / 20% of the total A Level marks
A2 Unit 3: Further Prescribed Plays – you will study two further set plays. You will be asked to answer one question  from each of two sections: Section A: pre-twentieth century plays Section B: twentieth century or contemporary plays	Written Examination – Externally set and assessed 30% of total A level marks
A2 Unit 4: Presentation of Devised Drama – you will work in groups to develop and present a devised drama, performed in a theatrical style of your choice.  You will also research into a theatrical style chosen by the group for your practical work.	Practical Examination - Internally assessed and externally moderated by a visiting moderator 20% of total A level marks

 

 

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