The Drama Department

Drama at Stowe has grown from strength to strength. Teaching and learning takes place in a suite of spaces which includes the 98 seater Dobinson Theatre, a flexible space fully equipped with professional lighting and sound facilities, and a newly created Drama Studio which also boasts stage lighting facilities and a smaller classroom ideal for tutorials, study, DVD, video and research. For larger production and activities the Department also has the 400 seater Roxburgh Hall which has a proscenium arch stage, fully equipped with professional lights and sounds and is generally the site of major play productions, which have included Les Miserables, 'Mother Courage and her Children', The Boy Friend and 'Our Country's Good'.

Many of the drama students also appear in the diverse range of extra curricular drama that goes on in School, which includes productions by our Senior and Junior Congreve (our Drama Society named after William Congreve the English playwright 1670-1729 famous for his restoration comedies of manners) - each stages a major production during the year and is a key highlight of the drama calendar. Throughout the year there are numerous opportunities for entertainment with House Plays and other Stoic driven productions.

The Department arranges workshops and performances by visiting professional drama groups and theatre companies. These visits not only contribute greatly to the cultural life of the School but they also give Stoics valuable experience of working directly with professional actors, designers and directors. Developing the range of diverse and challenging theatre, and hosting professional artistes in School, is an important enhancement to the curriculum. This is alongside regular external visits to see plays in the region and in London.

Whether or not it is studied as a formal qualification, taking part in drama activities helps Stoics to build self-confidence, develop the ability to handle a range of situations along with transferable skills for any career, as well as contributing to the rich culture of life at Stowe.

Director of Drama: Mr Nick Bayley

Arts Festival

For the last three years, Stowe has held an Arts Festival - now developed into an Arts & Science Festival - in which a rich and varied programme is organised: of presentations, masterclasses and participative workshops to provide something for everyone, all just before our Half Term break. The feedback has been tremendous, having involved and excited so many Stoics. Altogether the Arts & Science Festival proved to be an exhilarating, instructive and enjoyable few days which brought out the best in our Stoics.

GCSE

Content
GCSE Drama is all about understanding what it is like to put yourself in somebody else's shoes. Stoics will play many parts in different imaginary situations and have the opportunity to create their own work as well as look at plays written and performed by other people.

Assessment
DR1: Devised Practical Performance (60%)                                            Controlled Assessment                                                                               120 marks (120 UMS)

Task One - 40% Devised Performance                                                 Candidates will devise a practical performance based on a theme, linked with a practitioner or genre.

• Candidates may choose either acting or a theatre design skill;
• If candidates select theatre design in this task, they must select acting in the performance from a text (DR2);
• Internally assessed and externally moderated with task two.

Task Two - 20% Devised Performance Report                                                    Candidates will complete a written report on the practical work they completed in task one, under formal supervision.

• The report should include details of live performances candidates have seen that have influenced their practical work; details on decision making; the inclusion of technical elements and the content of the piece and an evaluation of their own work and that of the group;
• Internally assessed and externally moderated with task one.

DR2: Performance from a Text (20%)                                                    External Assessment                                                                          50 marks (40 UMS)                                                                              

Candidates will be assessed on either their acting or a theatre design skill, in a scene from a published play.

• Candidates to work in groups of between two to five members;
• No more than two design candidates per group, each working on a different skill;
• If candidates select theatre design in this unit, they must select acting in the devised practical performance (DR1);
• Externally assessed by a visiting examiner in April/May.

DR3: Written Examination (20%)                                                            Written Paper: 1½ hours                                                                     50 marks (40 UMS) 

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to analyse one set text as an actor, designer and director and to evaluate practical work completed in DR2.

Expectation
This is the right course to follow if there is a desire to study a subject that is both practical and creative. You may have done some acting before or helped out backstage on a production. You may have always wanted to have a go at directing, acting or creating a lighting plan but never had the chance. Now this can be done - and you can obtain a GCSE at the end of it!

The course will be enjoyed by those who like working as part of a team, as Drama involves a significant amount of group work.

The Value of GCSE Drama
If unsure about what to do next, do discuss options with your Drama teacher. There are many opportunities for those holding a GCSE in Drama. The exam can be taken for its own sake or as part of a range of subjects. Alternatively, there may be a desire to go into a job which requires the skills developed during this course. Career areas might include retail, travel and tourism, sales and marketing or any other that involves meeting people face-to-face. The study of Drama helps develop transferable skills which can be taken into any career or job.

A Level

If you are interested in any aspect of the theatre, enjoy seeing or reading plays, would like to become an actor or are thinking of a career as a designer, technician or administrator in the performing arts, then Drama and Theatre Studies is an A Level you should consider. Drama and Theatre Studies is a varied and challenging course which combines the study of play texts, practical drama, training in technical aspects of productions, theatre history and theatre visits.

Drama and Theatre Studies is a fully accredited A Level and is accepted as such by all universities. The course will not only teach you to read critically, to think for yourselves and to write essays to a high standard, it will also develop your ability to work with others and to perform in front of an audience; skills that will be of enormous value in all walks of life.

Drama and Theatre Studies is not an 'easy option' but a demanding and challenging course that will develop a wide range of skills and abilities and stretch the most gifted student.

The course structure is as follows:

AS

DA1 - 20% Practical performance 60 marks (80 UMS)
Unit Title: Performance Workshop

For this unit candidates will either act in a group or contribute their chosen technical production skill to a performance from a set text and a devised piece. They will work on the ideas of two practitioners.

The unit is internally marked and externally moderated.

DA2 - 30% Written paper (2 hour paper) 120 marks (120 UMS)
Open text exam
Unit Title: Text in Performance.

Candidates will answer three questions:

• One pre-1900 text from a prescribed list
• One post-1900 text from a prescribed list
• Live theatre review

The unit is externally marked.

A2

DA3 - 30% Practical performance 120 marks (120 UMS)
Unit Title: Performance on a Set Theme.

Candidates will be expected to work in response to a theme set by the WJEC and prepare two scenes. In each case candidates will either act or demonstrate a technical production skill with a group of performers.

The performance will include:

• scenes/extracts from any published play
• a piece devised by the group

An evaluation of group work for both pieces will be required.

The unit is externally marked.

DA4 - 20% Written paper (2½ hour paper) 80 marks (80 UMS)
Unit Title: Text in Context

1. Two sets texts from a prescribed list: one pre - 1914 and one post - 1914. This is an 'open text' examination - candidates will be asked to discuss the play as a whole, including the following aspects:

• theatrical content
• performance history
• theatrical challenges of text in terms of acting
• personal reaction to the text

2. Directional analysis of an unseen text. There will be four sections to the paper:

• ground plan
• design/costume
• lighting/sound
• movement

The unit is externally marked.