A Level Drama & Theatre Studies

“Drama and Theatre Studies is far more of a challenge than GCSE, yet 10 times more exciting! The practical work is adventurous, fun and stretches your performance or design skills. We attend a range of live theatre and the written work helps you to analyse texts from the point of view of a director or actor/ actress. It’s fantastic!”

Component 1: Drama & Theatre

A written paper worth 40% of the overall A Level

Assessment takes place during a 3 hour written exam during which students must answer one question from each of the following three sections:

• Section A: set text 1 – Drama Through The Ages (25 marks)

• Section B: set text 2 – 20th and 21st Century Drama (30 marks)

• Section C: Live Theatre Production (25 marks)

Component 2: Creating Original Drama

A practical devised unit including written coursework worth 30% of the overall A Level

Assessment takes place in school by the teacher and is then moderated by AQA. Pupils have to prepare and perform a devised piece of work and create a Working Notebook. The devised piece must be influenced by one prescribed practitioner.

Component 3: Making Theatre

A practical scripted unit including written coursework worth 30% of the overall A Level

Assessment takes place in school by a visiting examiner. Pupils have to undertake a practical exploration of three key extracts from contrasting plays. They will then select one to be performed in the style of a second prescribed practitioner. Pupils will also have to produce a Reflective Report based upon their practical work.

Pupils are expected to attend organized theatre trips and attend rehearsals outside lesson times in order to really benefit from everything that the course offers and to fulfil their potential.