Drama

Subject Leader: Mrs V Hollidge – vhollidge@knoleacademy.org

Exam Board: AQA

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Intent

A Knole Academy drama student will show excellence in Control, Collaboration, Commitment, Creativity and Communication as well as being strong Reflective learners.

We expose our students to regular theatre visits which reinforce high expectations in performance and theatrical awareness. School productions strive to maintain a professional level of excellence, giving all students an opportunity to participate.

Implementation

At KS3 the students will explore a range of skills, building knowledge and understanding of key practitioners and dramatic techniques. This is enhanced with regular opportunities to devise dramatic thematic work, explore scripted drama and engage with technical projects such as puppetry, set and costume design. Throughout their dramatic studies, students will develop their ability to reflect and self- assess their own progress. This reflective learning prepares them for key stage four.

At KS4, students will work on group performance pieces, reflecting regularly as they develop and refine in preparation for an assessed performance. These reflections form a substantial part of the final grade along with scripted performances and a final written exam paper. Students will continue to develop knowledge of practitioners, plays and live theatre throughout the course.

Impact

We believe that drama is an essential subject for developing crucial life skills such as leadership, taking direction and problem solving.  By delivering a diverse and well – rounded drama curriculum, we not only nurture performance skills but essential skills for any work.

Drama in Each Stage

Drama at Key Stage 3 (KS3)

Year 7

  • Drama toolkit – an exploration of a range of drama skills
  • Darkwood Manor – role play, sound & atmosphere, directing

Year 8

  • Mystery Genre – exploring “play within a play”, multi-role, mantle of the expert with elements including foreshadowing and red herrings.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Puppet Design – Exploring the world of technical drama through Puppetry with a focus on Handspring Puppet Theatre company.

Drama at Key Stage 4 (KS4)

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.

Examination Information

Exam board: AQA
Qualification: GCSE Drama 8261

How is the course assessed?

Component 1: Understanding Drama (40%)

80 marks. Written exam

  • General Knowledge – 4 Marks
  • Set Text – “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell – 44 Marks
  • Live Theatre Performance – 32 Marks

Component 2: Devising Drama (40%)

80 marks. Internally assessed

  • 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 (20%)

40 marks. Externally assessed.

  • Key Scene 1 – 20 Marks
  • Key Scene 2 – 20 Marks

Enrichment and Extra-curricular Activities 

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; the school and the community of Knole Academy positively receive these.

Recent Theatre Visits:

  • Blood Brothers, Churchill Theatre, Bromley
  • The Play that Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre
  • Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
  • 39 Steps, Trafalgar Theatre
  • Wicked, Apolla Victoria Theatre
  • Hadestown, Lyric 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 and Dolls
  • The Addams Family
  • Macbeth
  • D.N.A.
  • Wyrd Sisters
  • Loserville

Drama Future Paths

Students can progress further to LAMDA Speech and Drama

Drama can be helpful in the workplace as it shows an employer that you can speak with a certain amount of confidence and have the ability to work well with others.

Drama Extra Resources

Extra Resources

Revision Materials

Knowledge organisers

  • Year 7 – Drama toolkit
  • Year 7 – Darkwood Manor
  • Year 8 – Mystery genre
  • Year 8 – Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty
  • Year 9 – Skills and Techniques
  • Year 9 – Practitioners
  • Year 9 – Text in Practice
  • Year 9 – Devising drama
  • Year 10 – Log support
  • Year 10 – Blood brothers
  • Year 11 – Live theatre
  • Year 11 – Text in practice
  • Year 11 – Exam preparation