GCSE Drama

You will gain knowledge of different drama genres and styles; learn to use different stage and performance conventions; explore the ways in which performers and designers communicate meaning to an audience; and develop many other communication skills.  Such skills will be of value in the future in any profession that involves dealing with people – the legal profession; education;  social work; journalism, and of course TV, film and the theatre.

Many lessons involve practical work:  developing work for assessment, rehearsal and performance.  However, you should also be ready to engage in a variety of written tasks, arising out of the practical work undertaken. This will include keeping a devising log which is part of the exam and worth 60 marks, and developing responses to play scripts.

There is also a written exam based on the study of a set text which is worth 80 marks.  For success, it is vital to be ready to attend a number of live productions, both in and out of school time.  Follow up lessons will result in reviews of these live productions.  We try to ensure that at least one such trip is to the West End, London.  In recent years this has included ‘War Horse’ and ‘The Woman in Black’.

Drama develops the skills of the independent learner: encouraging independent research and exploration of individual ideas and responses; working co-operatively as a member of a group; nurturing focus and the ability to work without constant supervision; setting short and long term targets as a group member and as an individual; developing the skills of self and peer assessment to ensure a full understanding of how to succeed in this examination.  

The subject content is divided into three components:

1. Understanding Drama
2. Devising Drama
3. Texts in practice