Drama
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Year 7
In Year 7, students learn the basics of Drama and Theatre by studying solo performance in the Autumn term with a focus on film monologues and a naturalistic style of acting. This aims to give students a grounding in acting technique and a knowledge of key vocabulary that will last them throughout their time in Ysgol Penglais. Later in the year, students will continue to work on their acting skills by studying improvisation – further developing their subject knowledge and technique by learning the art of being spontaneous. Finally, the summer term sees Year 7 study a complete play text, learning how to respond to live theatre and evaluate their own and others’ performances. This year may look slightly different due to Covid19 regulations around performing and practical work, but the department aims to keep lessons as practical and engaging as possible!
| Module/Project title | Key assessment piece | Homework regularity | |
| Autumn | Solo Performance Project | 1x prepared solo performance of a monologue from a film. | It is given at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with assessment pieces. |
| Spring | Improvisation* | 1x rehearsed improvisation based on a given title/stimulus. | It is given at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with assessment pieces. |
| Summer | Text Study* | 1x scripted performance of an extract from the play studied during the term. | It is given at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with assessment pieces. |
*Projects are subject to change due to the ever changing situation surrounding Covid-19.
Year 8
In Year 8, students will begin by studying, and producing their own, Radio Dramas; developing and refining key skills learnt in Year 7 as well as learning new skills that will last them their time in Ysgol Penglais and beyond! Year 8 students will also learn to create their own performances, using Social Media as a stimulus and a spring pad for ideas. They will explore different styles of theatre throughout the Spring term and use these to develop their work. The summer term sees students study a full play text, which will allow them to enhance their characterisation skills and consider the design process used within theatre. Though Drama may look very different this year due to Covid19 regulations, the department will endeavour to make lessons as practical and engaging as possible!
| Term | Module/Project title | Key assessment piece | Homework regularity |
| Autumn | Radio Drama | 1x performance of a short Radio Drama written in pairs. | It is set at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with the preparation for assessments. |
| Spring | Text Study* | 1x scripted performance of an extract from the play text studied over the term. | It is set at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with the preparation for assessments. |
| Summer | Melodrama* | 1x short performance of a Melodrama | It is set at the discretion of the class teacher and usually coincides with the preparation for assessments. |
*Projects subject to change due to the ever-changing situation around Covid-19.
Year 9
As students prepare to choose their options in Year 9, the focus in Drama switches to the study of play texts and the decisions that are made by actors, designers and directors when creating and rehearsing theatre. Students will study different acting techniques, areas of design such as set and costume design as well as learn how to review and evaluate their own and others’ performances in a live theatre review. Whilst Drama may be slightly different this year, due to Covid19 regulations, the department will endeavour to make lessons as practical and engaging as possible.
|
Term |
Module/Project title |
Key assessment piece |
Homework regularity |
|
Autumn |
Text Study: |
A series of GCSE style exam questions totalling 20 marks that will include both short and long answer questions. |
It is set at the discretion of the class teacher as and when it is needed and usually coincides with preparation for assessment. |
|
Spring |
Devised Project: |
1x group devised project based on stimuli given by the class teacher around the topic of social media. |
It is set at the discretion of the class teacher as and when it is needed and usually coincides with preparation for assessment. |
|
Summer |
Design/Skills Workshops Lighting |
There will be no assessed piece in the summer term. |
It is set at the discretion of the class teacher as and when it is needed and usually coincides with preparation for assessment. |
*Project titles may change depending on the ever-changing situation with Covid-19.
Year 10
WJEC GCSE Drama is made up of three individual units:
Unit 1 – Making Theatre – marked by Teacher and moderated by the WJEC
- Students will work in groups of between 2 and 5 actors + designers to create a piece of theatre inspired by a stimulus set by the WJEC.
- The performance must also be based on the working methods of one theatre practitioner or style of theatre.
- Students will complete a portfolio of evidence over the rehearsal process that is no more than 900 words in length.
- Students will also complete a written evaluation of the final performance piece under exam conditions over 90 minutes.
Unit 2 – Performing Theatre – externally assessed by the WJEC
- Students will work in groups of between 2 and 4 actors + designers to realise a short segment of a scripted play.
- Students will study two, ten minute extracts from the same play and cut the play text down so that the performance consists of two contrasting extracts lasting no more than 7-14 minutes depending on group sizes.
- A Statement of Intent must be completed prior to the examination date by all students, whether acting or designing, that outlines their artistic intentions for the performance.
Unit 3 – Interpreting Theatre – externally assessed by the WJEC
- This is a written exam split into two different sections. Section A (45 marks) is based on an extract from the set text (100 by the imaginary body) and Section B (15 marks) is a Live Theatre Evaluation.
In Section A, students must answer ALL questions. In Section B, a choice of two questions will be given to students who must choose one to answer.
Course Outline
|
|
Weighting of Unit |
Marks Available |
Examination Period |
|
Unit 1 – |
40% |
60 |
EITHER July Year 10 OR October – November Year 11 |
|
Unit 2 – |
20% |
60 |
January – May |
|
Unit 3 – |
40% |
60 |
May – June Year 11 |
Year 10 Content
|
|
Content |
Assessment |
|
Summer 2 (Yr 9) |
Theatre History |
NA |
|
Autumn
|
Practitioner/Style Study · Frantic Assembly (Physical Theatre) · Stanislavski (Naturalism) · Verbatim Theatre |
Students will take part in a Devised Performance Project in small groups (2-4 actors + designers) which will be performed in the Emily Davies Studio at the University. Students will also complete a short portfolio of their work. |
|
Spring 1
Spring 2 |
Set Text Study · 100 by the imaginary body
Live Theatre Evaluation
Practitioner/Style Study · Theatre in Education |
Students will answer a series of short and long answer questions in a timed test.
Students will watch a (recorded as) live piece of theatre and write up their evaluation using a given exam question as guidance. The essay will be approx. 2 pages in length.
NA |
|
Summer
|
UNIT 1 Preparation |
Students will perform their Unit 1 Devised Theatre pieces under examination conditions.
Students will also complete their portfolio of evidence and their written evaluation of the final performance.
|
Year 11
WJEC GCSE Drama is made up of three individual units:
Unit 1 – Making Theatre – marked by Teacher and moderated by the WJEC
- Students will work in groups of between 2 and 5 actors + designers to create a piece of theatre inspired by a stimulus set by the WJEC.
- The performance must also be based on the working methods of one theatre practitioner or style of theatre.
- Students will complete a portfolio of evidence over the rehearsal process that is no more than 900 words in length.
- Students will also complete a written evaluation of the final performance piece under exam conditions over 90 minutes.
Unit 2 – Performing Theatre – externally assessed by the WJEC
- Students will work in groups of between 2 and 4 actors + designers to realise a short segment of a scripted play.
- Students will study two, ten-minute extracts from the same play and cut the play text down so that the performance consists of two contrasting extracts lasting no more than 7-14 minutes depending on group sizes.
- A Statement of Intent must be completed prior to the examination date by all students, whether acting or designing, that outlines their artistic intentions for the performance.
Unit 3 – Interpreting Theatre – externally assessed by the WJEC
- This is a written exam split into two different sections. Section A (45 marks) is based on an extract from the set text (100 by the imaginary body) and Section B (15 marks) is a Live Theatre Evaluation.
In Section A, students must answer ALL questions. In Section B, a choice of two questions will be given to students who must choose one to answer.
Course Outline
|
|
Weighting of Unit |
Marks Available |
Examination Period |
|
Unit 1 – |
40% |
60 |
EITHER July Year 10 OR October – November Year 11 |
|
Unit 2 – |
20% |
60 |
January – May |
|
Unit 3 – |
40% |
60 |
May – June Year 11 |
Year 11 Content
|
|
Content |
Assessment |
|
Autumn
|
From Page to Stage Analysing a text Rehearsing a text Creating a character Performing a text
Revision for Unit 3 – 100 |
A short performance of one scene from a play text in pairs.
Mock Exam – December |
|
Spring
|
UNIT 2 – Performing Theatre |
Visited by an external examiner somewhere between January and May of Year 11 for performances/design of two extracts from the same play. Usually done in pairs. |
|
Summer 1
|
Final revision for Unit 3 Revision packs containing sample questions given out to students. Redrafts of theatre evaluations completed |
NA |