Course information
Drama and Theatre Studies
Birkdale School - Sheffield
01142668408
Oakholme Road, Sheffield, S10 3DH
Course summary

This is an A Level which comprises practical work, set plays, the study of theatre practitioners and work on live theatre productions. It requires a willingness to work as part of a team, good communication skills and an ability to think creatively. It is a challenging and demanding discipline both intellectually and artistically. It is an academic subject.

Entry requirements

Entry into the Sixth Form is conditional upon achievement of a minimum of five passes (grades 9-5) at GCSE, with at least four of these at grade 6 or higher including any subjects studied at GCSE which are to be studied at A level.

How you'll be assessed

Component 1: Devising (40 %) (Internally assessed) Students devise an original performance piece using one key extract from a performance text and a theatre practitioner as stimuli. They must produce a written portfolio of between 2500-3000 words and the devised performance/ design realisation. Creating a devised performance includes: • exploring an extract from a text in light of a practitioner • using this exploration to create ideas for a devised piece • working collaboratively to develop these ideas • analysing and evaluating the development process and your contribution to it • analysing and evaluating your performance • recording this process in a portfolio Component 2: Text in Performance (20%) (Externally assessed by visiting examiner) Students present a group performance/ design realisation of one key extract from a performance text and a monologue or duologue performance from a key extract from a different performance text. Taking part in two extract performances from two different texts, one a monologue or duologue and the other a group piece includes: • developing performance and/or design skills • understanding the context of the extracts within the text • articulating your intention for the character you are performing or the design you have created • communicating your intention through performance Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice (40%) (Externally assessed) • Students will sit a 2-hour 30-minute exam. This will ask students to evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen, explain • how they would realise an extract from a performance text they have studied and produce an extended answer on another • performance text they have studied. Practical exploration of a set text, including: • understanding of style, genre, structure, form • interpretation of characters • consideration of staging, including lighting, set and sound • consideration of costume and make-up • understanding of social, historical and cultural context • how meaning is communicated to an audience. Re-imagining of a set text for a contemporary audience in light of a practitioner, including: • exploring the work of a practitioner and considering how that would affect their re-imagined production • interpretation of characters and understanding of style, genre, structure, form • consideration of staging, including lighting, set sound and costume • understanding of social, historical and cultural context • how meaning is communicated to an audience. Analysing and evaluating a piece of live theatre, including: • watching a piece of live theatre • producing notes to document their response to it.

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionYorkshire and the Humber
Local AuthoritySheffield
Ofsted Rating
Gender TypeCo-Educational
ISI ReportView Report
Boarding FeeUnknown
Sixth Form Fee£10,653 - £14,985
AddressOakholme Road, Sheffield, S10 3DH