Theatre Studies

Theatre Studies*

What you need to know before taking the course

• No previous experience of drama is required.
• We look for interested, energetic students who are committed to working as part of a group.
• The course will develop many skills both specific drama skills such as acting and design and also many social, interpersonal and communicative skills.
• Though the majority do, you do not have to act as part of your exam assessment.
• There is a high practical content and rehearsals outside college time will be expected.
• Alongside the practical content, there is a significant amount of written work.
• It is a respected AS/A-level subject equal to all others and thus naturally accepted by all universities.

Course outlineAS-level: Unit 1 Live Theatre Production Seen and Prescribed Play
Written Paper: 1 hour 30 minutes 100 marks
Weighting: 60% of the total AS marks / 30% of the total A Level marks
One question to be answered from each of two sections:
Section A - response to live theatre seen during the course
Section B - study of one set play from a choice from six plays
Externally set and assessed

AS-level: Unit 2 Presentation of an Extract from a Play
Practical : 80 marks
Weighting: 40% of the total AS marks / 20% of the total A Level marks
Performance by a group of an extract from a published play.
The assessment also includes candidates' preparatory and development work and supporting notes.
Internally assessed and externally moderated

A-level: Unit 3 Further Prescribed Plays including Pre-Twentieth Century
Written Paper: 2 hours 100 marks
Weighting: 30% of the total A Level marks
Study of two further set plays. One question to be answered from each of two sections:
Section A: pre-twentieth century plays and Section B: twentieth century or contemporary plays.
Section B is synoptic, requiring suggestions for a complete stage realisation of a short extract from the play printed in the paper.
There is a choice from six plays for each of the two sections.
Externally set and assessed

A-level: Unit 4 Presentation of Devised Drama
Practical : 80 marks
Weighting: 20% of the total A Level marks
Performance by a group of devised drama. The assessment also includes candidates' preparatory and development work and supporting notes. Synoptic.
Internally assessed and externally moderated

Productions
A look at the events of recent years indicates the range of public performances:
Guys and Dolls My Fair Lady The Revolting Rhymes

The Good Person of Szechuan The Lost Art of Being Happy Little Shop of Horrors

Road Arabian Nights Grease

Two The Canterbury Tales The Ash Girl

A Midsummer Night's Dream The Insect Play The Conference of the Birds

Oklahoma Hedda Gabler Les Miserables

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui The Owl And The Pussy Cat Went To Sea Animal Farm

Sweet Charity Joseph (and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) Beowulf

MacBeth The Tempest Town

Tartuffe Our Country's Good

A2 productions take place in October/November and March/April; these give the second year students the chance to explore and experiment with ideas and really work as a group. The work is demanding and challenging but ultimately extremely rewarding.

Programme for 2009 - 2010
October - The Hypocrite
November - Our Country's Good
March - Blood Wedding

"I really enjoyed Oedipus. There was a huge buzz about the department and working with the other group was brilliant!"

"I've gained knowledge, friends, satisfaction and confidence from doing Arturo Ui."

"Probably the best part of the course" - The Ring

"It gave me a different perspective on the creative process" - The Insect Play

"The Good Person of Szechwan was one of the highlights of the course and an experience never to forget."

Live Theatre
Students are encouraged to see as much live Theatre as possible. Unit 1 demands that students write about theatre experienced over the AS year.

About the department
The department is one of the largest drama centres in the country with around 110 students. There are three teaching staff who are supported by two technicians. Our focal point is the drama studio - a flexible teaching and performance area capable of seating 50 - 80; fully curtained it is equipped to the highest standard: Lighting includes a grid with six 7 metre bars and 44 outlets, a range of over 40 new lanterns and an ETC Element 250 Channel Lighting Desk. Sound includes PEAVY Speakers, TAPCO sound desk and amplification and access to CD players.

Adjacent to the studio is a workshop/project space and a resource/teaching room. Other accommodation includes a "black box" studio and a full props and resource area.

Students come from a wide variety of schools and around 40% continue on to Drama/Media related courses at University and Drama Schools. Universities, colleges and employers all like to see their students have interests beyond their examination courses. DRAMA is a good example of such an interest as well as being an excellent way of getting involved with a wide range of students and staff in an enjoyable and creative way.

A typical year in the department
At present, we have 41 students in the A2 year and 62 in the AS year making Greenhead one of the biggest drama departments in the country. Students come from a wide variety of schools. There are eight groups in total (five in the AS year and three in the A-level year) with an average group size of 12/13.

Theatre visits / workshops
A2 students continue to see live theatre especially as this can both inform and be a reference point for inspiring Devised Drama for the second year practical. Some live Theatre visits organised by the Department recently include:
Animal Farm West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Antigone Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Don John West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Accidental Death of an Anarchist Lawrence Batley, Huddersfield

An Inspector Calls The Lowry, Salford Quays

The Miser Royal Exchange, Manchester

Billy Liar Lawrence Batley, Huddersfield

The Caucasian Chalk Circle West Yorkshire Playhouse

Deep Cut West Yorkshire Playhouse

Drama Enrichment
Drama is open to all students across the college (around 120 were involved in the December production of Fame) and we work particularly closely with the Art/Design and Music Departments. Every year is different and we offer a varied production programme from straight dramas (a 'verbatim' production exploring the lives of local Huddersfield people called 'Town' in 2009) to spectacular musicals to student devised work. Every summer we work with a local primary school to produce a piece of theatre for a younger audience (The Owl and the Pussycat in 2009).

What can I do with Theatre Studies A-level?
Universities, colleges of higher and further education and employers all like to see that students have interests beyond their examination courses. Drama is a good example of such an interest as well as being an excellent way of getting involved with a wide range of students and staff in an enjoyable and creative way.