Drama
Our aim: To elicit creative self-expression, critical thinking, and artistry through the study of drama strategies, play text and methodologies of theatre practitioners, and to become confident and courageous individuals.
Drama and Theatre surround our everyday life. We want to be entertained, we want to learn how to be empathetic to others, we want to question ourselves and life around us. Drama gives you the opportunity to elicit your creative self-expression, become critical thinkers, be able to analyse and reflect on work constructively. Through the study of a range of drama strategies, stimuli, play text and methodologies of theatre practitioners, you will become more confident and courageous individuals.
Curriculum Overview
In Year 7 students begin learning about the basic drama strategies needed to create effective and engaging work. They look at characterisation and what vocal and physical skills are needed to portray a variety of roles. This develops further into Year 8 when we look at more challenging themes and issues through a variety of stimuli. Students also being developing their analytical understanding of how messages are created and how it can relate to the current world. Students that opt for the Stage and Screen course in Year 9 will be able to carry through these skills as they will be creating, performing and editing their own short films. Once students get to the GCSE course, the skills that they have learnt through the years will then be applied to their exam work both practically and written.
Year 7 Topics
Term 1-2: Gloom Manor: ‘Does acting make you successful?’ Devising Unit using a stimulus to create original piece of drama. Beginning looking at basic drama strategies and how to create characters and storylines.
Term 3-4: Skellig: ‘Can we accept ‘difference’ in society?’ The study of a play text, exploring the characters, structure and developing variety of drama strategies.
Term 5-6: Melodrama: ‘Why do human beings stereotype?’ Exploring the genre of melodrama, the characters and conventions of this style of theatre
Year 8 Topics
Term 1-2: 1984: Can anyone ever be truly trusted? The study of the play text, looking at the themes and issues and its relevance in today’s world.
Term 3-4: Stone Cold: Should we care about everyone in society? The study of a play, developing more complex characterisation skills and drama strategies.
Term5-6: Theatre Styles: ‘Do good actors become their characters?’ Exploring a range of theatre styles such as naturalistic and more stylised theatre. Exploring comedy, and physical theatre
Year 9 Topics
Stage and Screen is an option course than students can opt for at the end of Year 8. This is a combined course looking at the mechanics of film making, how to construct storyboards, exploring plays and making and editing their own films.
Term 1-2: Horror on Stage and Screen: How do artistic choices have an impact on the audience responses? Students will explore cinematography, camera angles, looking at codes and conventions of the genre. Students will create storyboard of a Horror sequence.
Term 3-4: DNA: Should we take responsibility for our own actions? The study of a play practically and the themes, issues, target audience. Create their own trailer for a film version of the play
Term 5-6: Silent Movies: How have past movements influenced stage and screen in the 21st century? Exploration of the silent movie era and the codes and conventions of this style of film. Students will then create their own silent short film
Year 10 topics
Term 1-2: Script Study: How to bring the written word to life? Students will be exploring a script practically, looking at the characters, themes and issues. They also look at performance elements in drama as well as the design aspects.
Term 3-4: Blood Brothers: Students will be being exploring their set text for the written exam. This term will also be a mock devising unit where students will create an original piece of theatre from a chosen stimulus.
Term 5-6: Blood Brothers: Continuation of their set text study. Students will also begin working on their first practically exam, which is a devising piece based on a given stimulus from the exam board.
Year 11 topics
Term 1-2: Component 1 – Devising: Student will create and perform their own piece of theatre based on a given stimulus from the exam board. This is internally assessed and externally moderated. It is worth 30% of the course.
Term 3-4: Component 2 – Presenting Text: Students will explore and perform 2 extracts from a play text of their choosing. This is externally marked and worth 30% of the course.
Term5-6: Component 3 – Performance and Response: This is the written exam and will based on the set text Blood Brothers and also a theatre review. Students will have had the opportunity to visit the theatre throughout their course. This is worth 40% of the course.