Drama
Drama Department
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Subject Leader Drama Department |
Mrs V Hollidge |
Introduction
Our Drama students are dynamic, independent and entrepreneurial – confident in performing, creating, directing, designing, teaching and producing performances for a wide range of contexts. Our lessons are varied and exciting and involve acting or researching.
Students will need to bring the correct equipment to all their Drama lessons: an exercise book, pen, pencil and most importantly a focused and creative mind. GCSE students will also need to bring their Drama workbook, textbook and any scripts they are currently studying.
How can I support my child through KS3 Drama?
- Ensuring homework is completed to support learning in the lesson
- Taking them to the theatre
- Watching drama on television and discussing strengths and weaknesses
- Talking to them about what they are studying in Drama and their Drama targets
How will my child be assessed in Drama?
There will be practical assessments with every topic. This will either be through final performances or continually though their practical lessons. Homework will consist of development tasks on work completed in lessons, such as a set design for a script or mask design for a character, writing up evaluations and rehearsing for assessment at breaks or lunchtimes.
Recommended Websites
- https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning
- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=national+theatre+discover
- https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/resources
- https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zbckjxs
Follow the Drama Instagram Accounts:
-
knoletheatrics - Y7 & Y8 Drama
-
Hollidgehints - GCSE Drama Students
-
2020macbeth - Macbeth 2020 cast members - this title will be changing
Key Stage 3
What will my child be studying?
Year 7
- Drama toolkit – exploration of a range of drama skills
- Darkwood Manor – role play, sound & atmosphere, directing
Year 8
- Mystery Genre
- The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty - 1st step in the ladder of exploring thematic drama and bullying
Year 9
- Skills and techniques - recapping and cementing previous learning, plus exploring new techniques
- Park Bench - character and monologue development
- Drama Practitioners - exploring the methods and techniques of Stanislavski, Brecht, Frantic Assembly and Artaud
- Text in Practice - D.N.A. by Dennis Kelly. This is the 2nd step in the ladder of exploring thematic drama - bullying.
- Devised Drama Challenge - using a stimulus and skills to create devised drama. Externally moderated by a theatre.
Key Stage 4
Exam board: AQA
Qualification: GCSE / A LEVEL
Specification: GCSE DRAMA 8261 / A LEVEL DRAMA AND THEATRE 7262
How is the course assessed?
Component 1: Understanding Drama (Written Exam) - 40% Total: 80
- General Knowledge - 4 Marks
- Set Text - "Blood Brothers" by Willy Russell - 44 Marks
- Live Theatre Performance - 32 Marks
Component 2: Devising Drama (Internal Exam) - 40% Total: 80
- LOG 1: Inspiration and Intention - 20 Marks
- LOG 2: Developments - 20 Marks
- Performance - 20 Marks
- LOG 3: Analysis and Evaluation - 20 Marks
Component 3: Text in Practice (External Exam) - 20% Total 40
- Key Scene 1 - 20 Marks
- Key Scene 2 - 20 Marks
What is covered on the course?
For Component 1 we study the play Blood Brothers, looking at all aspects of production from acting and rehearsing to design such as lighting and set.
Students study theatre styles such as Physical Theatre. Puppeteering, Stanislavski’s Methods and Brecht’s Epic Theatre to influence their own devised work in preparation for Component 2.
To prepare for Component 3 they will explore play texts by John Godber, Dennis Kelly, Simon Stephens, Martin McDonagh and Shakespeare. For Component 3 performances, students will perform from a wide range of different plays.
Enrichment and Extra Curricular
There is a strong tradition of theatre visits, workshops and extra-curricular work. There are Drama clubs at lunchtime and rehearsals after school. There is an annual KS3 talent Competition which is open to anyone who wishes to compete.
LAMDA Speech and Drama examinations are offered. Candidates will prepare for solo, duo or group exams in acting, devised or mime.
The Drama department annually stages a school production the Oaks theatre; these are positively received by the school and the community of Knole Academy.
Recent Theatre Visits:
- I’m Not Running The National Theatre
- The Play That Goes Wrong Duchess Theatre
- Woman In Black Fortune Theatre
- Everyone’s Talking About Jamie Apollo Theatre
- School Of Rock New London Theatre
- 39 Steps Stag Theatre
- Blood Brothers Churchill Theatre
Recent Workshop Visits:
- Physical Theatre Workshop Frantic Assembly
- Blood Brothers workshop Stage-ed
- 39 Steps workshop Stage-ed
- Backstage Tour National Theatre
- Dr Faustus / Christopher Marlowe workshop Dr Tom Band
- Playwright Q&A Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time)
Recent Productions Include:
- The Tempest
- Oliver!
- Guys & Dolls
- The Addams Family
- Macbeth
