Performing Arts - AS Level
Key Staff: Miss. Toland
Entry Requirements: 4-5 grade or higher for Drama and English
Is this a new two year linear Subject? Yes
Key Points About The Course
- Theatre studies is a linear course, students can choose to complete either the AS, over 1 year or a-level over 2 years.
- You cover 2 components for the AS qualification.
- Component 1 AS - Exploration and Performance, this unit counts for 60%. In this unit students will study a play in a practical way. There are three parts to this assessment:
- A portfolio documenting practical exploration of the play.
- A group performance
- A monologue performance
- Component 2 AS – Theatre makers in practice exam, this unit counts for 40%. This is a 1 hour 45 minute exam, which will cover 2 sections.
- Section A – Live theatre evaluation, students will go to watch a live theatre performance and then write a review on it.
- Section B – From page to stage, students will study a play in lessons and then answer 2 questions, 1 as a performer and 1 as a designer.
- You cover 3 components for the a-level qualification
- Component 1 – Devising, this unit counts for 40%. In this unit, students will study a play and then devise an original piece of theatre using the play as a stimulus. There are 2 parts to this component:
- A portfolio documenting the process
- The devised performance
- Component 2 – Text in performance, this unit counts for 20%. A group performance and a monologue performance. Both assessed by a visiting examiner.
- Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice exam, this unit counts for 40%. This is a 1 hour 45 minute exam, which will cover 2 sections.
- Section A – Live theatre evaluation, students will go to watch a live theatre performance and then write a review on it.
- Section B – From page to stage, students will study a play in lessons and then answer 2 questions, 1 as a performer and 1 as a designer.
- Section C – Interpreting a Performance Text, students will study a text and then answer a question from the point of view of a director.
- You need to be hard working, committed and enjoy studying plays and completing written work to do well on the theatre studies course.
Or???
- You need to be creative – can you work in a creative way? Are you good at creating imagine drama?
- You will work practically most lessons. You will need to have good communication skills as you will be expected to work with everyone.
- You will have to write up notes for most of your lessons.
- You should enjoy reading play texts and studying practitioners.
- You need to be a confident writer and should have good written communication skills.
- You need to enjoy performing as you will be expected to perform in front of an examiner and an external audience.
- If you prefer the back stage/technical side there are options to work in makeup, lighting, sound, ECT
- You should have a good understanding of how to interpret plays. Can you breathe life into an old play?
- You should enjoy going to watch live theatre performances in your own time and with the class.
- You need to be hard working, committed and enjoy studying plays and completing written work to do well on the theatre studies course.