In the broadest terms, the study of theatre as an active, living medium, as well as the academic study of dramatic texts and theatrical craft.

You will learn through experience, seeing theatre and making theatre for yourself. You will be introduced to a wide range of theatrical styles and contexts as you devise and work on  performances, whilst exploring a variety of plays practically.

Throughout the course you can choose to develop your skills as a:

• Performer
• Designer (lighting, sound, set, costume, puppets)
• Director
• Or, a combination of all of these.

Whichever option you choose, you will gain many invaluable skills, both theatrical and transferable, to expand your horizons.

This qualification emphasises practical creativity alongside research and theoretical understanding. You will learn through experience, seeing theatre and making theatre for yourselves. You will be introduced to a wide range of theatrical styles and contexts as you explore plays practically, devise and work on scripted performances.

Component 1: Drama and Theatre (40% of A-level)

A written exam assessing your knowledge and understanding of Drama and Theatre, including the study of two contrasting set plays and analysis and evaluation of live theatre.

Component 2: Creating Original Drama—Practical (30% of A-level)

A devising unit in which you will participate as a performer, designer or director to produce a piece of theatre influenced by the work and methodologies of one prescribed practitioner. This will be accompanied by a ‘Working Notebook’ which will record the devising process.

Component 3: Making Theatre—Practical (30% of A-level)

This unit will involve the practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts taken from different plays. Your exploration of these extracts will be underpinned by the methodologies of different practitioners and your performance of Extract 3 will be externally assessed. Throughout this unit you will complete a ‘Reflective Report’ analysing and evaluating your theatrical interpretation of all three extracts .

Please refer to our entry requirements document.

A willingness to participate freely in dramatic activities of all kinds; a desire to work as part of a team and rehearse outside of lesson times; a passion for the theatre and an interest in theatre-making; creativity and a commitment to the academic study of set texts.

In addition to providing an obvious route into creative careers, the personal skills developed through this A-level are immense, highly transferrable and may be used to pursue a wide range of careers or higher education courses. You will grow in confidence as you successfully realise your own ideas; learn to evaluate objectively and develop a sound appreciation of the influences that cultural and social contexts can have on decision making; you will refine your collaborative and problem-solving skills, whilst developing your powers of analytical thinking and approach to academic research.

In addition to regular trips to the theatre for exam classes, we run as much extra-curricular Drama as we can to provide students with a wealth of different experiences and opportunities within our subject, which is so important in nurturing vital interdisciplinary skills – such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, time management, creativity – and building resilience.

• Every two years we run a whole school production which involves over 160 students from Years 7 to 13. Our most recent have been Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Annie and The Little Mermaid.
• Moving forward, we aim to put on a smaller scale play for KS4 and KS5 in the interim year.
• We run two weekly Drama Clubs at lunchtimes: KS3 Drama Club for Years 7-9 and the SWGS Theatre Company for Years 10-13 which work towards creating several performances across the year for our school community.
• A-Level students have the opportunity to take part in professional workshops led by key practitioners and industry specialists.