Drama
Welcome to the Drama department at AMVC. The following information is intended to give an overview of the work of the department and its aims.
Drama is essentially a practical subject which relies on the ability of participants to communicate and express their ideas and feelings. Therefore Drama enables students to develop an understanding of themselves and others through the creation of a range of imagined situations. The topics and themes covered by the drama curriculum enable young people to develop their sensitivity and understanding of a multicultural society
Through participation in a range of drama activities students develop confidence in their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. The ability to express opinions, compromise on ideas and accept constructive criticism are key life skills which are also embedded in the study of Drama.
As well as being an invaluable tool for the development of the social, moral and emotional intelligences of young people, drama also challenges students to use their physical and vocal expression skills to create complex characters. The development of improvised or scripted material for performance also challenges students to demonstrate their understanding and awareness of a range of drama techniques and performance styles.
Key Stage 3 Drama
Through the study of Drama in Years 7, 8 and 9, students explore a range of social, historical and cultural themes. Each Unit results in a practical assessment with some form of written evaluation built into the final task. The schemes of work practiced by the department at Key Stage 3 enable the students to meet the levels criteria as outlined in the Arts Council of England ‘Drama in Schools’ document.
GCSE Drama
The GCSE course is a creative and challenging choice of study for anyone who enjoys Drama and working as part of a team. Through the study of GCSE Drama students will:
i) Explore a range of drama styles and practitioners.
ii) Develop a greater understanding of how to use a range of drama forms.
iii) Evaluate the work of others and students’ own response to tasks.
GCSE Drama is not only for the next Cate Blanchett or Johnny Depp. The study of Drama at this level will enable students to read ‘in-between-the-lines’ of human interaction through the analysis of body language, vocal delivery and human emotion. GCSE Drama is, therefore, a valuable qualification for anyone who is considering a career in a field that will require the ability to communicate with a wide range of people.
The Course
| Unit A581: From Page to Stage |
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The focus of this unit will be on how a published text is animated and brought to life for an audience. The emphasis is on working to the intention of the original playwright and not on devising.
Candidates will work on a selected text through workshops and undertake a controlled test in which they perform an extract from the text and complete a working record. The text is selected by the centre.
This unit is internally assessed by the teacher and moderated by postal moderation.
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| Unit A582: Drama in the Making |
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The focus of this unit will be to explore and develop candidates’ understanding of the devising process using stimulus material. They will explore and gain an understanding of the key principles and concepts of devising a piece of drama. The stimulus is selected by the centre.
Candidates will explore a chosen stimulus item through workshops and undertake a Controlled Assessment in which they will deliver a Workshop Presentation and complete a working record.
This unit is internally assessed by the teacher and moderated by postal moderation.
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| Unit A583: From Concept to Creation |
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The focus of this unit is to explore and realise one of four briefs set by OCR. The briefs will use either the text extract and/or stimulus provided as a starting point to develop skills through a series of workshops exploring the functions of Deviser, Designer, Director and Performer. At the end of the unit, candidates will undertake a practical examination, comprising of a preparation/rehearsal period and a practical outcome. Candidates will be assessed on their performance/presentation and their planning, and working record.
The practical examination is externally marked by a visiting examiner.
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Skills Required
As well as developing their acting, improvisation and creative skills through study of the GCSE Drama course, students will also need to develop their communication, inter-personal and evaluative skills.