Academic
AS Drama and Theatre Studies Course Outline
AS Unit 1: Exploration of Drama and Theatre
40% of the total AS Marks
Content summary: This unit introduces students to the content of plays written for the theatre. You will learn how to analyse plays in a variety of ways so that you become familiar with the way written plays can be interpreted for realisation in performance.
Assessment:
- This internally assessed unit requires students to explore two contrasting play texts, chosen by the centre. in a practical and active way. At least one of the plays must be explored in the light of a recognised theatre practitioner.
- A set of Exploration Notes must be submitted.
- Students are also required to experience a live theatre performance and submit an evaluation.
AS Unit 2: Theatre Text in Performance
60% of the total AS Marks
Content summary: This unit offers students the chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment. The knowledge and understanding gained during the study of two plays in Unit 1 can now be applied with a view to delivering a performance to an audience.
Assessment:
This is an externally assessed unit.
- The first section requires students to offer either a monologue or duologue.
- The second section requires students to contribute to a performance of a professionally published play by a known writer.
Students may offer either acting or a design form and must also provide a concept of the interpretation of their chosen roles or designs.
AS knowledge and understanding
This Advanced Subsidiary requires students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- how performers, designers and directors communicate meaning to an audience theatre practice through their own engagement with the medium as both participant and informed audience member
- the appropriate vocabulary and specialist terminology for the subject.
- a minimum of two published plays demonstrating understanding of how style, form, dramatic structure and characterisation can be interpreted and realised in performance, and how plays relate to their historical, social and cultural context – they must be varied in terms of period and genre the work of at least one influential director, designer, theatre company or other practitioner who has made a significant contribution to theatre practice.
This Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced specification should develop students’:
- ability to form judgements about live theatre based on their understanding of drama and theatre
- use of subject-specific terminology in a range of contexts
- performance and/or production skills appropriate to the creation and realisation of drama and theatre
- ability to work creatively and collaboratively to achieve shared dramatic intentions
- ability to respond to plays imaginatively conveying ideas clearly and coherently.
Unit 1 Description Exploration of Drama and Theatre
This unit introduces students to the content of plays written for the theatre. They will learn how to analyse plays in a variety of ways so that they become familiar with the way written plays can be interpreted for realisation in performance.
The focus of this unit is to use practical drama to explore two contrasting plays. Students will:
- be given opportunities to explore the use of language, structure and characterisation
- explore the potential for staging plays
- explore the social, cultural, historical and political elements of the plays
- show how the meaning of a play might be interpreted and communicated to an audience
- consider how the application of dramatic elements (ie movement, vocal expression, sound, light, costume, masks, props and setting)
- contribute to the development and shaping of ideas for the performance of the selected plays
- evaluate the merits of both the plays they have explored and onsider their worth in society today
- record their practical findings in a set of Exploration Notes using appropriate drama and theatre terms and concepts
- explore at least one of the plays in terms of at least one recognised practitioner.
Students must see at least one live theatre performance and:
- write an evaluation of the performance seen
- have a working knowledge of production values
- be able to make critical and evaluative judgements.
Unit 2 Description Theatre Text in Performance
Section A
Performers present:
- either a monologue (maximum length two minutes) or a duologue (maximum length five minutes)
- a written performance concept of the interpretation offered.
Designers present:
- the realisation of a design
- appropriate documentation
- a written design concept of the interpretation offered.
- a presentation of the design process.
Performers will complete a written performance concept and designers a written design concept of their interpretation of the chosen text. Performers need complete a written concept only for Section A. Designers need to complete a written concept for both Section A and Section B.
The written concept must be no longer than 500 words. The written concept will typically include:
- evidence of an understanding of the complete play text
- acknowledgement of the context of the chosen monologue, duologue or design within the complete play text
- an explanation of the preparation process and intended interpretation.
Section B
Performers present a group performance. Groups may not be fewer than three students or more than nine. Performances must last no less than 15 minutes or more than 60 minutes. Designers present:
- the realisation of a design
- appropriate documentation
- a presentation of the design process.
Both performing and design students must present a written concept to the visiting examiner in advance of seven working days before the examination. These should each be completed on one side of A3 paper or two sides of A4 paper to a maximum of 500 words. The work must be completed under supervised conditions.