Drama

This course which explores the roles and responsibilities in theatre, focussing specifically as a director, designer and actor. The course is designed to give you a broad and balanced experience through analysing and reproducing theatre performances in a variety of styles to develop core acting skills and techniques.

You can only choose Performing Arts (Drama) OR Performing Arts (Dance) — you cannot do both.

What the course involves 

You will complete three components for this course, each component looks into a different areas of theatre. The components and their assessment methods are outlined below.  

• Component 1 ‘Exploring the Performing Arts’  involves exploring the roles and responsibilities in theatre and a variety of performance styles through investigating practitioners in drama.
• Component 2 ‘ Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts’ requires developing and reflecting on the use of acting skills and techniques in workshops working towards a reproduction of a scripted performance.
• Component 3 ‘ Performing to a Brief’ is where students apply their skills and understanding of acting skills through creating performances in response to a stimulus.

Assessment

Component 1 and 2 are internally assessed (marked by the teacher) and externally moderated. There involve a combination of practical performances and supporting written coursework. These components combined make up 60% of students’ final grade.

Component 3 is externally assessed (marked by the exam board), is worth 40% of the final grade and requires students to work in small groups to create a performance based on a set task.   

Requirements

It is essential that you have an enthusiasm and passion for drama and an interest in performing as this is an important aspect of the course. Your attendance should be excellent; when you are absent in drama you not only effect your own progress but also he progress of other learner in your group. 

Where can it lead?

Career opportunities

Career opportunities include; professional actor, director, teacher, lighting technician,  stage crew manager, stage designer, drama therapist, and theatre company director. This course also develops a wide variety of transferable skills that are useful in many professions these include; self-confidence, resilience, determination, leadership, teamwork,  communication, creativity and self-discipline.  

Post-16 opportunities 

If successful in this course students could further develop  skills by studying the Level 3 BTEC Performing Arts  qualification or A Level Drama/ Theatre Studies. Students can also develop through choosing Level 3 design or tech courses. Students may also choose to undertake an apprenticeship in a  theatre company or find employment in the performing arts industry.