Drama and Theatre Studies

Course summary

Drama and Theatre has become a highly respectable A Level over the last decade and is valued by universities as a subject connected to both the arts and the humanities. The balance of practical skills and academic knowledge, as well as a growing understanding of, and empathy for, the world around us, allows pupils to develop a wide range of skills and disciplines. It is one of the few subjects that is not based 100% on a written paper at the end of U6. This gives pupils the chance to work practically and attain 60% of their marks before the examination season. It provides an opportunity to spend lessons doing something creative, on their feet, rather than stuck behind a desk. Drama and Theatre is ideal for those who like to create work that questions assumptions, enjoy finding innovative ways of communicating with an audience, and, most importantly, enjoy performing. Pupils study five different plays from various eras (performing sections of three of them), learn to evaluate live theatre as a critical audience member and create their own piece of verbatim theatre based on a topic that interests them. They can be assessed as an actor, a director or a designer. Assessment is of written essay skills and practical acting and directing skills in equal measure.