A Level Drama and Theatre combines a practical focus to the subject with academic rigour. You will be assessed through performance work and written examination and will get the opportunity to see a huge variety of live performance work, including cutting edge productions like Gecko’s Institute, sell out shows like Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, as well as more traditional theatre performances. Drama and Theatre is respected academically as it builds skills of research, analysis and written expression. The subject is useful for any career where confidence, communication, self-awareness, flexibility, imagination, leadership or teamwork is involved. A Level Drama and Theatre is therefore relevant for students considering Higher Education in any arts or humanities subject. The course also enables students to develop skills which are relevant to a wide range of higher education subjects and in the workplace. The skills that are learnt by studying drama are invaluable in later life. Drama can be a good basis for a career not only in the theatre, but in advertising, the film industry and even in events planning, among many others. Other career opportunities for students who are studying A Level Drama and Theatre might include arts/theatre administration; arts journalism; director; actor; designer; playwright; stage management; theatre management; commercial/public sector; sales and marketing; theatrical agent; technician; broadcasting; education; drama therapy or scriptwriting. The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to: • develop and apply an informed, analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding drama and theatre • understand the place of relevant theoretical research in informing the processes and practices involved in creating theatre and the place of practical exploration in informing theoretical knowledge of drama and theatre • develop an understanding and appreciation of how the social, cultural and historical contexts of performance texts have influenced the development of drama and theatre • understand the practices used in twenty-first century theatre making • experience a range of opportunities to create theatre, both published text-based and devised work • participate as a theatre maker and as an audience member in live theatre • understand and experience the collaborative relationship between various roles within theatre • develop and demonstrate a range of theatre-making skills • develop the creativity and independence to become effective theatre makers • adopt safe working practices as a theatre maker • analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
Places in Withington’s Sixth Form are limited and prospective students who wish to apply are advised to visit us on the Sixth Form Information Evening and/or one of our Open Days. If after your visit you wish to take the next step in the admission process, you should complete a Statement of Interest (the form is available from admissions@wgs.org). This will enable our Sixth Form admissions team to review the Statements of Interest submitted by candidates to gain an understanding of factors such as predicted grades and A Level subject choices, but also why candidates wish to take those subjects and their aspirations beyond school. We recommend this route for girls who know their A Level subject choices and whose predicted grades meet our entry requirements (a minimum of six 7-9 grades at GCSE, with 8-9 grades in the subjects you wish to study). After reviewing the Statements of Interest, before the end of the Autumn term, we will invite a number of candidates to submit a formal application. Once an application is received, references from current schools will be taken and an appointment made to take part in an interview. Interviews may take place in person or online. Applicants are notified of the outcome of the Sixth Form admissions process by the end of March.
Component 1: Drama and theatre Written Examination (3 hours) Open Book 40% of the A Level Content overview The examination assesses: • Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre. • Practical exploration and study of two complete performance texts. • Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers. The structure of the Written Examination • Students answer one question (from a choice) on how they might interpret and realise specific aspects of the chosen set play adopting the perspective of a performer, designer or director as appropriate to the question. (25 Marks) • Students answer three compulsory parts of one question on a given extract from the second A Level chosen text. Each part focuses on a different perspective- as a director, as a performer and as a designer. (10 Marks per part=30 Marks) • Students answer one essay question (from a choice) requiring them to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen. (25 marks). Component 2: Creating Original Drama Practical Working notebook (40 Marks) Devised Performance (20 Marks) 60 Marks in total 30% of the A Level Content overview In this unit, students learn how to create and develop original devised ideas to communicate meaning as part of the theatre making process. Students are marked in two ways: • On the process of creating their devised drama. • On their performance of the devised piece (students may contribute as performer, designer or director). • The devised piece must be influenced by the work and methodologies of one of the exam board’s prescribed practitioners. Component 3: Making Theatre Practical Performance of extract 3 (40 marks) Reflective report (20 Marks) 60 Marks in total 30% of the A Level Content Overview There are two parts to this component 1) Practical exploration and theatrical interpretation of three extracts (Extract 1, 2 and 3) each taken from a different play. Extract 3 must be performed as a final assessed piece. (Students may contribute as performer, designer or director). Extract 3 must also apply the methodology of a prescribed theatre practitioner. 2) A reflective report analysing and evaluating the process and interpretation of all three extracts (20 marks).
About Education Provider
| Region | North West |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £15,573 |
| Address | Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6BL |
A Level Drama and Theatre combines a practical focus to the subject with academic rigour. You will be assessed through performance work and written examination and will get the opportunity to see a huge variety of live performance work, including cutting edge productions like Gecko’s Institute, sell out shows like Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, as well as more traditional theatre performances. Drama and Theatre is respected academically as it builds skills of research, analysis and written expression. The subject is useful for any career where confidence, communication, self-awareness, flexibility, imagination, leadership or teamwork is involved. A Level Drama and Theatre is therefore relevant for students considering Higher Education in any arts or humanities subject. The course also enables students to develop skills which are relevant to a wide range of higher education subjects and in the workplace. The skills that are learnt by studying drama are invaluable in later life. Drama can be a good basis for a career not only in the theatre, but in advertising, the film industry and even in events planning, among many others. Other career opportunities for students who are studying A Level Drama and Theatre might include arts/theatre administration; arts journalism; director; actor; designer; playwright; stage management; theatre management; commercial/public sector; sales and marketing; theatrical agent; technician; broadcasting; education; drama therapy or scriptwriting. The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to: • develop and apply an informed, analytical framework for making, performing, interpreting and understanding drama and theatre • understand the place of relevant theoretical research in informing the processes and practices involved in creating theatre and the place of practical exploration in informing theoretical knowledge of drama and theatre • develop an understanding and appreciation of how the social, cultural and historical contexts of performance texts have influenced the development of drama and theatre • understand the practices used in twenty-first century theatre making • experience a range of opportunities to create theatre, both published text-based and devised work • participate as a theatre maker and as an audience member in live theatre • understand and experience the collaborative relationship between various roles within theatre • develop and demonstrate a range of theatre-making skills • develop the creativity and independence to become effective theatre makers • adopt safe working practices as a theatre maker • analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
Places in Withington’s Sixth Form are limited and prospective students who wish to apply are advised to visit us on the Sixth Form Information Evening and/or one of our Open Days. If after your visit you wish to take the next step in the admission process, you should complete a Statement of Interest (the form is available from admissions@wgs.org). This will enable our Sixth Form admissions team to review the Statements of Interest submitted by candidates to gain an understanding of factors such as predicted grades and A Level subject choices, but also why candidates wish to take those subjects and their aspirations beyond school. We recommend this route for girls who know their A Level subject choices and whose predicted grades meet our entry requirements (a minimum of six 7-9 grades at GCSE, with 8-9 grades in the subjects you wish to study). After reviewing the Statements of Interest, before the end of the Autumn term, we will invite a number of candidates to submit a formal application. Once an application is received, references from current schools will be taken and an appointment made to take part in an interview. Interviews may take place in person or online. Applicants are notified of the outcome of the Sixth Form admissions process by the end of March.
Component 1: Drama and theatre Written Examination (3 hours) Open Book 40% of the A Level Content overview The examination assesses: • Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre. • Practical exploration and study of two complete performance texts. • Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers. The structure of the Written Examination • Students answer one question (from a choice) on how they might interpret and realise specific aspects of the chosen set play adopting the perspective of a performer, designer or director as appropriate to the question. (25 Marks) • Students answer three compulsory parts of one question on a given extract from the second A Level chosen text. Each part focuses on a different perspective- as a director, as a performer and as a designer. (10 Marks per part=30 Marks) • Students answer one essay question (from a choice) requiring them to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen. (25 marks). Component 2: Creating Original Drama Practical Working notebook (40 Marks) Devised Performance (20 Marks) 60 Marks in total 30% of the A Level Content overview In this unit, students learn how to create and develop original devised ideas to communicate meaning as part of the theatre making process. Students are marked in two ways: • On the process of creating their devised drama. • On their performance of the devised piece (students may contribute as performer, designer or director). • The devised piece must be influenced by the work and methodologies of one of the exam board’s prescribed practitioners. Component 3: Making Theatre Practical Performance of extract 3 (40 marks) Reflective report (20 Marks) 60 Marks in total 30% of the A Level Content Overview There are two parts to this component 1) Practical exploration and theatrical interpretation of three extracts (Extract 1, 2 and 3) each taken from a different play. Extract 3 must be performed as a final assessed piece. (Students may contribute as performer, designer or director). Extract 3 must also apply the methodology of a prescribed theatre practitioner. 2) A reflective report analysing and evaluating the process and interpretation of all three extracts (20 marks).