COURSES

Drama & Theatre Studies
Overview
“Theatre is a serious business, one that makes or
should make man more human, which is to say,
less alone.”
Arthur Miller, Playwright
Studying Drama is not just for those who wish to
become actors, writers or directors - far from it.
Drama is for those who are interested in studying
what it is to be human and how this can be
explored, portrayed and defined through creative
and theatrical means. Learning to be creative is a
challenging and courageous pathway, which rewards
those who are generous and wish to take risks.
Engaging with an audience is skill that needs to be
crafted and refined; delivering an impact requires
imagination and belief.
Approach
Everything we do in Millfield Drama is focused on
a practical application of performance skills. We
devise, study and reflect in a scholarly manner, with
performance at the very heart of the course. Theatre
thrives on invention and pupils are encouraged to
find their voice, harness their strengths and tell
their stories.
Course outline
AS
Theory: Study of a prescribed play ‘Antigone’ by
Sophocles and analysis of Live Theatre through
visits to numerous productions.
Practical: Creation and performance of a
‘Scripted Project’.
A2
Theory: Study of two prescribed plays ‘Coram Boy’
by Helen Edmundson and ‘Servant to Two Masters’
by Carlo Goldini.
Practical: Creation and performance of a
‘Devised Project’.
“I’ve never been more glad of an academic
decision than the one I made to choose Drama
A level; it showed me that drama isn’t just the easy
ride I had always assumed it to be. The course
required just as much dedication and focus as any
other, even helping me to become more focused,
and was more rewarding than most of my other
A level choices.”
Phoebe Wood-Wheelhouse
Student of Drama, and graduate of
English Literature at Keble College, Oxford
The drama course is assessed by 60% written work
and 40% practical work. It is both an academic and
a practical subject and so if you chose to do Drama
you will be expected to write, read and research all
aspects of the theatre, as well as act, perform and
play. Complete commitment is required to study
drama and pupils are carefully guided and supported.
For both the AS and A2 courses, you are required
to create an acting project for which you will be
externally moderated. This will make up 40% of
your overall AS and A2 mark. For most pupils these
exciting projects are the best part of the course and
for many, the best thing they’ve ever done in
their lives.
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Millfield Sixth Form Courses 2014-2015