Drama

 

Drama is a highly creative and dynamic subject that allows students to question, explore and make sense of the world around them. In drama lessons at The Ellen Wilkinson School, pupils will have the opportunity to explore a variety of different styles and genres of theatre, to study the theories of various practitioners and to engage with a range of dramatic texts. Drama builds confidence and encourages pupils to work collaboratively and creatively. Drama is an option subject for GCSE and A Level at The Ellen Wilkinson School.

 

Curriculum

KS3

Drama is studied by all students in year 7 and year 8 for one lesson per cycle.

Year 7	Mime and Mask Working with Text The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty – by David Calcutt Introduction to the works of Shakespeare
Year 8	Physical Theatre Interpreting the text  Hard to Swallow – by Mark Wheeler Shakespeare's "A midsummer night's dream"

 

We follow the Edexcel specification for GCSE Drama. You can find out more about what this involves at http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/drama-2016.html

Activities to do at home

• Ask your parents or guardians to take you to the theatre
• Join a drama club
• Write a scene for a play – use your imagination!

KS4

At KS4 we prepare students for the components they will need to complete for their GCSE. These include devising and developing original theatre, performing extracts from a text, analysing live theatre and considering a play from the perspective of an actor, a director and a designer.

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 9	Contemporary Theatre - Frantic Assembly   Theatre styles	DNA – by Dennis Kelly   Set Design	Devising Theatre
Year 10	Live Theatre Analysis   Theatre styles	GCSE Component 1- Devising	GCSE Component 3 "An Inspector Calls" - by JB Priestly
Year 11	GCSE Component 3 "An Inspector Calls" - by JB Priestly   Live Theatre Analysis	GCSE Component 2 Performing a Text Various play texts	GCSE Component 3 Exam Preparation

 

We follow the Edexcel specification for GCSE Drama. You can find out more about what this involves at http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/drama-2016.html

Activities to do at home

• Go to the theatre – Try the Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush or the Lyric in Hammersmith
• Join a drama club – The lyric have a great youth programme and often it’s completely free!
• Visit the National Theatre website for cheap tickets, events, videos and much more. nationaltheatre.org.uk

KS5

At KS5 study the work of recognised theatre companies and practitioners to develop their performance and rehearsal skills. They also perform extracts and monologues to a live audience and develop their own directors concept for an imagined production.

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 12	Devising Using a key extract and a Theatre Practitioner	Text in Performance Performing an extract and a monologue	Text in Performance continued
Year 13	Page to Stage Equus – Peter Shaffer	Interpreting a Performance Text Woyzeck – George Buchner	Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice

 

We follow the Edexcel specification for GCSE Drama. You can find out more about what this involves at http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/drama-and-theatre-2016.html

Activities to do at home

• Go and see as much theatre as possible  – Try the Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush, The Gate in Notting Hill or the Lyric in Hammersmith
• Visit the National Theatre website for cheap tickets, events, videos and much more. nationaltheatre.org.uk
• Read a play – there are so many fantastic plays out there to read – theatre bookshops have some excellent collections and can recommend you something you’ll enjoy.

 

Enrichment Activities and Trips

[Tell us about any clubs you run, and if you go on any trips as part of the course. Please use the table below, adding or deleting rows as appropriate]

KS3 Drama Club Open to year 7 and 8	Shakespeare Schools Festival At the Watermans Arts Centre
Our Annual Summer Production Auditions are in January	Various Theatre Trips throughout the year!
The Christmas Concert Perform a scene or poem!	Lunchtime Concerts Share the work you’ve been doing in Drama!

 

Career Paths

Drama provides students with skills in creativity, leadership, collaboration, problem solving, audience targeting, public speaking, charisma and much more. There are many career paths that drama could help you with.

Law	Teaching	Leading a Team	Advertising
Stage Management	Acting	Public Relations	Set Design