A-Level Edexcel Theatre Studies

Students of Edexcel A-Level in Drama and Theatre Studies will develop a variety of dramatic and theatrical skills - including performing, directing and critical evaluation - alongside an understanding and appreciation of drama and theatre in a social, cultural and historical context.

Component 1: Devising - 40% of Qualification.

Internally assessed:

This unit requires the creation of a unique and original piece of theatre. The knowledge and understanding gained in this unit can now be applied to a created production. Students will be assessed on both the process of creation and the finished product in the form of a performance to an invited audience.

Assessment:

This internally assessed unit requires students to create an original and unique piece of theatre. Their starting point may be stimulus material, themes, ideas and issues or a professionally published play by a known writer. Students will be assessed on the research and development of their work as well as the final performance in front of an identified audience. They are also required to complete an evaluation on both the process and performance of their work. Groups will work in no fewer than three and no more than six students. Smaller groups should produce a performance of no less than 15 minutes and larger groups no more than 30 minutes. Written evidence will be required reflecting the research and development work as well as a video/DVD of the final performance. This unit will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

80 Marks

Component 2: Text in Performance. – 20% of Qualification.

Externally assessed by a visiting examiner. Students will develop and demonstrate theatre-making skills, appropriate to their role as a performer or designer. They will explore how they realise artistic intentions in performance. The knowledge and understanding acquired though the study of one key extract from a performance text in Component 1 can be applied to assist in the interpretation, development and realisation of key extracts from performance texts. Teaching and wider reading should address the significance and influence of social, historical and cultural contexts on the chosen texts and extracts.

There are two areas of focus:

1) A monologue or a duologue performance realisation from one key extract from one performance text.

2) A group performance realisation of one key extract from a different performance text.

Group performance realisation: worth 36 marks.

Monologue or duologue realisation: worth 24 marks.

60 Marks

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice – Written 40%

Externally assessed:

This externally examined written component requires the detailed study of one set play text and one prescribed historical period of theatrical development.

Assessment:

This externally assessed component takes the form of a 2-hour-and-30-minute written paper in three sections. Sections A and B require students to explore one play, from a choice of three set play texts, from the point of view of a director in both an academic and practical way. In Section C a selection must be made of one from a choice of three historic periods of theatre history. A live performance of a play from the chosen period must be experienced and evaluated and a comparison made with the original staging conditions of the play.