Drama
Back“A stage space has two rules: 1) Anything can happen and 2) Something must happen.”
Peter Brook
Staff members
Mrs K Wilson (Head of Department)
Mrs C Leek
Subject Definition
-A play for theatre, radio, or television
-Plays as a genre or style of literature
-The activity of acting
Drama is a Creative Arts subject that explores the history of theatre, performance skills and performance analysis.
Subject Purpose
The study of Drama prompts three areas of student development:
Academic Development:
♦ Theatre Knowledge (Live Theatre Analysis / Performance Skills Development / Exploration of Play Texts / Development of Devising Techniques / Creation of Original Theatre / Exploration of Theatre History & Genre)
♦ Career Preparation: Understanding of skills required for Careers in the Performing Arts.
♦ Improvement of Literacy Skills: Textual Analysis / Analytical and Evaluative Writing / Learning and Spelling of Subject Specific Terminology
Development of the Whole Person:
♦ Enrichment and understanding of human emotion
♦ Development of Life (Social) Skills: Communication / Leadership / Confidence / Independent Learning / Analytical Skills / Intelligence / Creative Thinking / Empathy / Collaboration and Cooperation
Development of Appreciation for the Arts:
-Enrichment of the soul.
-Live artistic experiences can be enriching in a way that may not be achieved through a textbook (spiritually / emotionally / socially / politically).
The study of Drama is important on several levels:
On a personal level:
-It contributes to the whole person (Life Skills / Personal Enrichment).
-It prompts creativity.
-It inspires talent.
-It provides a sense of escapism.
-It provides an opportunity to make sense of the world.
-It can promote tolerance and understanding of the wider world.
-It aids individuals in developing personal opinions (Political / Social).
-It builds resilience.
-It inspires to walk in someone else’s shoes.
On a professional level:
-It enables us to explore the Performing Arts Industry.
-The Film and Theatre Industry is massively important to the British economy.
-The study of Drama matters because it prepares students for involvement in a thriving industry.
On a skills level:
The skills learnt in Drama are transferrable to a range of careers: media, law, advertising, education, PR, hospitality.
The study of Drama is fundamental to students achieving great things because every child has a talent. Performance is one area in which an individual can experience success, whether it be through excellence in performance and/or production, or developing confidence.
Students will leave their study of Drama with the Knowledge, Skills and Concepts listed below:
Knowledge:
-Theatre History
-Actor Training
Skills:
-Performance Skills
-Analytical Skills
-Life Skills: Communication / Leadership / Confidence / Independent Learning / Analytical Skills / Intelligence / Creative Thinking / Empathy / Collaboration and Cooperation
Concepts:
-Performance Analysis
-Woking High School Values
KS3 Overview
At Key Stage 3, students explore the foundation skills of Drama & Theatre which will prepare them for study at a higher level.
Students learn how to devise, improvise, interpret script, perform and evaluate, as well as develop an array of knowledge and understanding of practitioners, styles and playwrights.
KS4 Overview
At Key Stage 4, we strive to inspire emotional and intellectual response through performance and design. Students continue to develop their skills in devising, improvisation, script interpretation, performance, design and evaluation, as well as develop an array of knowledge and understanding of practitioners, styles and playwrights.
The course assessment is divided into three components:
Component 1: Understanding Drama (Written Exam / 40% of GCSE). The students are assessed on their ability to demonstrate their Knowledge & Understanding of Theatre through the exploration and response to a Set Text (‘Blood Brothers’), and through Analysis and Evaluation of Live Theatre. For the Live Theatre component, students are required to see a professional production. Formal assessment takes place in a written examination at the end of the course in Year 11.
Component 2: Devising Drama (Non-Exam Assessment / 40 % of GCSE). The students are assessed upon both the process of creating Devised Drama (recorded in a Devising Log), and the final Performance of the Devised Drama. The Log is worth 60 marks, and the Performance is worth 20 marks.
Component 3: Texts in Practice (Performance Exam / 20% of GCSE). The students are assessed on the performance of two extracts from the same play, which is assessed by an external examiner.
