Penley, North Wales
01948 830291
| Advanced Subsidiary | AS |
| Advanced Level | AS +A2 |
| Examination Board | AQA |
The AS Drama and Theatre Studies is designed to enable you to develop a huge range of practical and academic skills, resulting in a deeper understanding of the experiences and processes of performing to an audience.
You will develop your ability to work as part of a creative team on practical drama and theatre projects, acquiring and perfecting skills in areas such as design, performance, physical theatre, acting techniques and characterisation.
Live theatre is an important element of the course and you will visit local and national theatre companies to see plays in performance. You will also benefit from the expert advice and opinion of professional actors by taking part in pre-production workshops, master classes and post - production seminars.
The A level Drama and Theatre Arts modules build upon the skills acquired in Year one, broadening and deepening your level of expertise and understanding to enable you to produce and direct a play for performance. You will develop the ability to appreciate different styles of drama and approaches to theatre, and you will be able to apply these ideas creatively to your own work.
G.C.S.E. Drama is an excellent qualification, but you do not need to have done G.C.S.E. Drama to start this course. You do need to have achieved le grade in English and have a real enthusiasm for performance in all its forms.
Unit 1 - Practical Devised Drama
Performance by the group of a devised piece inspired by the course content. Internally assessed and externally moderated 4O% of total AS mark.
Unit 2 - Written - Approaches to Text
Study of two set plays. External exan1 1.5 hours
30% of total AS mark.
Unit 3 - Written - Theatre in Practice
Study of one theatre practitioner - Konstantin Stanislavski
External exam 1.5 hours
30% of total AS mark.
Creation and performance, by a group of candidates, of a devised piece of drama inspired by the AS Subject Content.
Study of two set plays, chosen from different periods. Candidates are required to interpret each play from a performance perspective.
Section A: Study of the theories, practice and influence of one theatre practitioner prescribed for AS.
Section B: Response to live theatre seen during the course. Candidates are required to assess the success of productions seen in terms of aspects of directorial interpretation, actors' performances, design elements and technical accomplishment.
A production, by a group of candidates, of part of play text. The play text should be chosen to extend and deepen candidates' knowledge and understanding of one of the dramatic forms, styles or genres encountered in the AS and/or A Level Subject Content.
Study of two further set plays, chosen from different periods. Candidates are required to demonstrate a creative overview of each play and to synthesise a range of performance skills and production elements in their interpretation.
Section A: Application of knowledge and understanding of the theories and practice of one theatre practitioner prescribed for A2 to a contemporary production seen or a production in which the candidates have been involved.
Section B: Interpretation of an extract or extracts from an unseen play for potential performance. Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge and understanding acquired through their study and experience of drama and theatre in different aspects of the course.