During the Lower Sixth lessons, students will start to explore the two set texts that will be examined in the summer of their final year of study. One is Machinal by Sophie Treadwell, which follows episodes in the life of a young woman in 1928 New York who is expected to marry a man she does not love. Students will study the characters from the perspective of an actor and how they might present them in the nine episodes of the play. They will also look at how various designers may use the tools available to bring the scenes to life. The other play is Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen in a translation by Richard Eyre. Students will look at how a director might present this play were they doing so in the style of the immersive theatre company, Punchdrunk. This involves advanced study of the text and the practitioner. There will also be theatre trips and students will analyse these in the light of examination questions. Students will also start their Devised Piece, which is an extract from a play, and students will dissect it in terms of characters, themes, issues, subtext, and social and cultural context to develop their piece. They will learn about various key theatre practitioners and will devise their pieces in the style of one of them. In Upper Sixth, students will complete their Devised Piece and perform it for assessment. They will embark upon their Supporting Portfolio of 3000 words, which is framed by responses to six pre-set questions. Students will continue to study the set texts and will answer practice examination questions, to which they will be given detailed feedback. They will also prepare for their Text in Performance unit by selecting texts to perform in groups as well as either solo or in pairs. Students will be advised by expert staff and will be able to access the extensive library of plays that we keep in the department. This will be performed in March of the examination year.