AS/A2 Theatre Studies

AS/A2 Theatre Studies
The course is designed to enable you to:
Develop characterisation and interpretation skills
Develop and improve upon vocal and physical skills
Have a practical understanding of different styles of theatre/drama
Apply literary and contextual aspects to different texts
Have an understanding of deconstruction, evaluative and analytical skills in written work
Is it for me?
The course is for those who enjoy performing, directing and analysing theatre, are happy working in groups and who enjoy watching professional theatre. Assessment is predominantly exam based.
What's involved?
Exploration of Drama and Theatre
During this unit you will explore two different texts chosen by your teacher. These texts will introduce you to different styles of theatre. You will perform these plays in either a partial or complete sense. This assessed performance will count towards your final grade. This unit also requires that you submit coursework called "Exploration Notes". These notes focus on the plot, use of language, forma and structure, visual, aural and spatial elements and social, cultural and historical elements of each text. These set of notes will also count towards your final grade. You will also see a live theatre performance and submit an evaluation.
Theatre Text in Performance
During this unit you will work on a play of your tutor's choosing. You will work as part of a company under the direction of your tutor. You will perform this chosen play twice. You will also perform a monologue or duologue from a different play. An external examiner will visit the college and mark you during your performance. These performances will take place in the Hayward Arts Centre and will count towards your final grade.
Exploration of Dramatic Performance
This unit introduces you to how to devise theatre. You will learn how to use stimuli in order to create a piece of original theatre. You will learn about theatre practitioners such as Artaud, Stanislavski, Brecht, Brook and Craig; their life, works and influences. You will investigate different methods of devising using different theatre forms. Through playing, experimenting, developing, revising and adapting you will produce an original piece of live theatre - to be performed in the Hayward Arts Centre. You will also produce an extensive piece of analytical written coursework charting your devising journey from stimuli to performance.
Theatre Text in Context
This unit works towards a written examination in June. You will study a set text, chosen by the exam board, from the point of view of the director. You will explore the play in a dramatic and academic way. You will also learn about a period of theatre history, see a live performance of a play from this time period and focus on the original staging conditions drawing comparisons. This unit is assessed in a two and a half hour written examination.
Progression
Students who have previously studied Theatre studies have gone on to degrees in Performance Studies, Teaching and Theatrical make-up.