Is this course for me?
Are you keen, enthusiastic and committed to creating effective and original drama as well as interpreting existing published work for performance? Are you a co-operative person, willing to contribute to planning and developing ideas, supportive of others and are aware of the extra time out of lessons that practical performance exams require? Are you able to work towards exploring texts and performance of your own ideas and those of others, and be able to interpret published plays for exam performance? Do you have the drive and inspiration to be creative, think on your feet, tackle all aspects of theatre and practitioners, different eras and cultures? If so, this is the course for you!

What qualifications do I need?
You will need the college entry requirements including GCSE English at grade 5 and GCSE Drama grade 4 or above. Experience in theatre, whether as a performer, director or designer would be helpful too.

What does the course involve?
Students will:

• Create, perform and respond to drama and theatre
• Develop the creativity and independence to become effective theatre makers
• Explore the relationships between theory and practice in a range of theatrical styles and periods and historical cultural & social contexts
• Learn how relevant research, independent thought and analysis of live theatre production can inform decision making in their practical work and put this understanding into practice
• Experience ways in which theatre makers collaborate to create theatre performances.

How will my work be assessed?

Component 1: Drama & Theatre
What's assessed?

• Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre
• Study of two set plays
• Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers

How it's assessed:

• Written exam: 3 hours
• Open book
• 80 marks -40% of A Level

Component 2: Creating original drama
What's assessed?

• Process of creating devised drama
• Performance of devised drama (as a performer, designer or director) that is influenced by the work and methodologies of one prescribed practitioner

How it's assessed:
• Working Notebook (40 marks)
• Devised performance (20 marks)
• 30% of A Level -marked by teachers and moderated by AQA

Component 3: Making theatre
What's assessed?

• Practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts each taken from a different play (methodology of a prescribed practitioner must be applied to Extract 3) Extract 3 is to be performed as a final assessed piece
• Reflective report analysing and evaluating theatrical interpretation of all three extracts

How it's assessed:

• Performance of extract (40marks)
• Reflective report (20 marks)
• 30% of A Level -marked by AQA What can I do afterwards?

Students successfully completing the course will have a thorough understanding of drama and theatre, highly developed analytical and creative skills and an ability to communicate effectively with others. Studying Drama and Theatre Studies at this level can open doors to many options of further/higher education or employment.