Theatre studies - The Pingle School

Theatre studies
Qualification: AS/A level Level: 3
Awarding body: AQA
For further information contact: Mrs E Dahinten, head of department
What will I learn on this course?
At AS students will gain a knowledge and understanding of theatre practice through their own engagement
with the medium as both participant and informed audience member. Students will develop performance
and/or production skills appropriate to the creation and realisation of drama and theatre.
At A2, the specification provides students with the opportunity to develop skills and extend and apply
knowledge gained at AS level. Students will demonstrate a more advanced level of performance and/or
production skills alongside the ability to think independently, make judgements and refine their work in the
light of research. They will also demonstrate the ability to analyse the ways in which different performance
and production elements are brought together to create theatre.
How will I be assessed?
Practical exam and timed essays.
What are the entry requirements?
A grade C in GCSE English. You do not need a drama GCSE to study this subject.
When does this course start?
September 2013.
How long does this course last?
AS: one year
Full A level: two years
How many hours of self-study will be required?
Five per week.
How is this course delivered?
You will have five lessons per week plus extra time for rehearsals and revision delivered as twilight sessions.
Each lesson is one hour long.
What are the mandatory modules or units - what will I have to study?
AS:
Unit 1: Practical performance.. Candidates act in a group to create a performance from a set text and a
devised piece. Students study the work and methods of two Practitioners.
Unit 2:Written Paper. Pupils answer three questions based on texts studied and live theatre performances
seen.
Topic list:
students’ personal response to live theatre seen during the course.
interpretation of a set plays from a performance and directorial perspective.
Review of live theatre.
Stanislavski
Brecht
Boal
Assessment: Unit 1 Practical performance 40% Internally assessed.
Written paper: Unit 2 2 hours (100 marks) Weighting: 60% of total AS marks.
One question to be answered from each of three sections:
section A: Pre 1900 text.
section B: Post 1900 text
section C: Live theatre review.
students practical work.

Theatre studies
continued
A2
Unit 1: Practical performance
Topic list:
Work in response to a theme selected by the exam board.
Create a devised performance.
Present extracts/scenes from a published text.
Assessment: Externally examined. 60% of final mark
Unit 2: Written paper
Topic list:
Two set text one Pre and one Post 1900.
Theatrical context
Performance history
Directorial analysys of unseen text.
Assessment: 2 ½ hour written exam: 40% of total A level marks.
Which courses does this one work alongside?
Theatre studies is often combined with English or other arts-based subjects but could be selected as a subject
to broaden your A level experience. It is supportive of subjects such as psychology, film studies, sociology,
history, law and government and politics.
What materials will I have to provide?
Set texts will be provided but you will need to have your usual paper, folder, pens and so on but above all you
will need commitment!
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
Theatre visits are compulsory.
What can I do after this course?
Higher education, degree level drama and theatre courses, media-based courses, drama school, drama
teaching, marketing, counselling and psychology, arts therapies, community and youth work qualifications and
social sciences. The team-building, practical aspect of theatre studies is often very appealing to employers.
What careers would this course be useful for?
This course would be useful for any career in the performing art industry, theatre in education, arts therapies,
teaching and youth and community qualifications.