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Netherthorpe School

Netherthorpe
School

Drama

Head of Department – Mr M Pearce

KS3

Year 7

In year 7 students learn the characterisation skills, subject terminology and performance techniques necessary to be successful on the GCSE Drama course.

Term 1

Autumn 1 - Matilda:

Introduction to characterisation and basic explorative strategies using the play ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl. Students will get the chance to play various characters from the musical.

Autumn 2 - Pantomime

Focusing on the theatre genre of ‘Pantomime’ students will explore the key conventions and traditions, as well as stock characters.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 2

Spring 1 – Non-Naturalism:

Introduce students to non-naturalistic theatre conventions using the theme of bullying. Symbolism, masks, cloths and physical theatre will be used.

Spring 2 – Evacuees

Topic based scheme using evacuees as a stimulus. Students will follow the story of ‘Sarah’ in the Blitz by using soundscape, physical theatre and cross cutting.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 3

Summer 1 – Oliver Twist

Characterisation SOW focusing on the play ‘Oliver Twist.’ Students have the opportunity to play a range of characters within the play and work as directors also.

Summer 2 - Macbeth

Allows opportunities for students to explore theatre history. Students will learn about different types of modern stages, as well as the Elizabethan stage and the era.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Year 8

In year 8 students continue to learn the characterisation skills, subject terminology and performance techniques necessary to be successful on the GCSE Drama course.

Term 1

Autumn 1 – Time Travel

Visiting a different era each lesson, students have the opportunity to develop their characterisation skills, knowledge of explorative strategies, as well as theatre history and genres.

Autumn 2 – Our Day Out

Students will study the play and focus on how to bring text to life. Focusing mainly on characterisation in this scheme, students will also learn how to build tension and use non-verbal communication.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 2

Spring 1 – Trestle Masks

Develop students’ confidence and stage presence in an exaggerated characterisation based scheme of work. Students will learn the mask rules and how to perform using these.

Spring 2 – Melodrama

Students will be able to link their knowledge to silent movies, as well as Victorian theatres. Students will have the opportunity to bring to life a range of OTT characters in script work and devising.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 3

Summer 1 – War Horse

Students explore roles within a production company, e.g. the actor, director, lighting and sound designer. They use the play War Horse to explore critical decisions, as we begin to introduce students to drama mediums and elements.

Summer 2 – War Horse

Students explore the play War Horse from a physical perspective. Students will learn how to use stage combat and physical theatre effectively.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Year 9

In year 9 students begin to study content, similar to what you would study in GCSE Drama. You are assessed on GCSE Drama criteria, whilst performing both scripted and devised performances.

Term 1

Autumn 1 – Commedia Dell Arte

Students will focus on the history of Commedia Dell Arte and the performance style. Students will develop their characterisation skills, whilst developing an understanding of the main stock characters and will have to replicate their characterisations.

Autumn 2 – Ruckus In The Garden

Students will practically explore the differences between characters from a private and public school. It gives students a chance to develop their skills in physical theatre.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 2

Spring 1 – Fame and Celebrity

Students will be introduced to different celebrities each week and how they handle being famous. Students will devise a non-naturalistic performance around the positives and negatives that come with being famous.

Spring 2 – Conflict

Scheme based on the life of Derek Bentley with a focus on naturalism and Stanislavski. Students will study a variety of acting exercises and techniques to help them create a believable character.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

Term 3

Summer 1 – Surrealism

Students will explore the world of the bizarre by creating dreams on stage. Students will develop an understanding of physical theatre, the theatre of cruelty and performance art.

Summer 2 – Playwrights

A scheme that allows students the opportunity to explore a range of scripts around children and teenagers. Students will explore the themes behind each play and use as many of the techniques they have studied across year 9 to create specific dramatic effects.

Assessments:

In each half term students will complete one written assessment (reflective writing) and one practical assessment (scripted or devised).

KS4

AQA GCSE Drama National  

Additional information of use to students/parents during study

GCSE Drama is an option which encourages students to develop life skills and confidence, as well as have lots of fun. The course enables students to explore texts in interesting ways, as well as devise original plays within groups. The qualification is enjoyable and engaging for students of all abilities and students will be expected to work with enthusiasm and imagination, as well as being committed to hard work. This course is great for improving communication skills, leadership abilities and resilience; all of which are highly valued by employers. A GCSE in Drama is widely accepted, by employers and colleges, as part of a balanced range of subjects that develop a student’s ability to think creatively. Drama is an option that will provide students with the skills and confidence to be successful in endless careers, both in and outside of the Arts industry: acting, musicians, lighting and sound design, directing, stage management, events management, teaching, occupational therapy, advertising, marketing, law; the list is endless.

Component 1: Understanding Drama (Written Examination)

In June of year 11, you will complete an open book written examination consisting of three sections. This will assess your knowledge and understanding of Drama and focus on how directors, actors and designers achieve specific effects. The first part of the exam is multiple choice and will test your knowledge on specific terminology. For the second section you will practically explore one set play during lessons and then you will have to justify how you would perform or design certain extracts of that play. In the final section you will write a live theatre review of a performance you have seen during the course. Your teacher will help you to fully prepare for this examination.

Component 2: Devising Drama (Practical)

You will get the chance to create and perform a devised duologue or group performance to a live audience, lasting between 5 – 20 minutes in length. During the development stages of this production, you will produce an individual devising log, documenting what happened during the devising process. This section of the course will test your ability to not only perform intentions to an audience, but justify your decision making as a director.

Component 3: Texts in Practice (Practical)

This is a purely practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to apply theatrical skills in live performances to create specific effects on an audience. You will study and present two key extracts from the same play. These performances may be in the form of a monologue, duologue or group performance, lasting between 5 – 20 minutes in length.

Assessment

  • Component 1: 40% of your GCSE: This examination will be externally marked by an examiner.
  • Component 2: 40% of your GCSE: This examination will be externally marked by your teacher.
  • Component 3: 20% of your GCSE: This examination will be externally marked by an examiner.

Here are a few websites/sources to support learning

https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zbckjxs

  • Book – AQA GCSE Drama, by Annie Fox, Paperback, Illuminate Publishing, 2017. ISBN: 1911208217
  • Book - Malorie Blackman/Dominic Cooke - Noughts and Crosses (Nick Hearn Modern Plays – ISBN: 978-1854599391).
  • Book - Grade 9-1 GCSE English Text Guide - Blood Brothers (CGP GCSE English 9-1 Revision), Coordination Group Publications Ltd, 2015. ISBN: 1782943110

KS5

A-Level Drama and Theatre

Additional information of use to students/parents during study

The course offers students the freedom to choose both the content and the form of their practical presentations. Candidates will have opportunities to perform extracts from plays and to demonstrate their understanding of an influential director, designer, theatre company or other practitioner. Candidates will also have the opportunity to devise drama on any topic, to be performed in a theatrical style of an influential practitioner. Studying Drama and Theatre Studies at A Level allows students to be creative as the course offers both written and practical elements. It offers the chance for students to further themselves as actors, directors and designers, as well as develop a greater understanding of theatrical history. Moreover, students visit the theatre to watch numerous live productions of scripted and devised plays.

How is the Course Assessed?

Component 1 - Drama and Theatre

40% of A Level assessed as a 3 hour written paper.

  • Students will study 2 set plays and answer questions based on their interpretation of selected scenes from the perspective of a performer, director or designer (Section A and B)
  • Students will analyse and evaluate the work of a theatre company based on a live production they have been to see during the course. (Section C)

Component 2 - Creating Original Drama

30% of A Level assessed by your teacher and moderated by AQA

  • You will work in groups of 2-6 to create an original piece of drama from an interesting stimulus of your choice and in the style of an influential practitioner (Brecht, Artaud etc.)
  • You will produce a ‘working notebook’ which is worth 20% of your A level, which has two sections: Section 1: Rationale and Research and Section 2: Development and Refinement.

 Component 3 - Making Theatre

30% of A Level assessed by AQA examiners

You will practically explore (workshop) and interpret three key extracts from a different play and complete two assessment tasks:

  • You will present Extract 3 to an audience and visiting examiner. This must be in the style of an influential practitioner, different to the one you chose for component 2.  This is worth 20% of your A Level.
  • You will produce a ‘Reflective Report’ analysing and evaluating your theatrical interpretation of all three key extracts studied.  This is worth 10% of your A Level.

Where Does This Course Lead?

Students can pursue their interests and develop their skills in a range of practical drama elements including acting, directing, costume, setting, mask and technical design. However, through this course, students will also gain entry qualification for courses in higher education, whether in the area of Drama and Theatre studies or in a host of other subjects. The course lends itself well to students who want to study drama at Higher Education and then go on to a wide variety of job roles related to Theatre, TV, Film and Radio. Studying this course at A-Level enables potential employers and higher education providers to see you as a creative and inventive individual, with excellent team work skills.

Unit 4 – Useful Resources:

Book - Carlo Goldino – The Servant of Two Masters (Drama Classics, Nick Hern Books, NICK HERN BOOKS, United Kingdom ISBN 10: 1848421931 / ISBN 13: 9781848421936).

Book - Steven Berkoff - Metamorphosis (in Three Theatre Adaptations from Franz Kafka, Amber Lane Press – ISBN: 978-0906399842).

Get in touch

marker

Ralph Road, Staveley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S43 3PU

phone

01246 472220

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