Course ID | Course Name | Instructor | Room Number | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dr | Drama & Theatre | Ms L. Peck | Durrant Building |
Is this the right course for me?
We are dedicated to using drama as a tool to expand the cultural awareness of our students and develop key life skills such as communication, confidence and empathy. In key stage 3 we secure a knowledge of theatre history and role-play skills that we develop in key stage 4 using practitioner theory and texts. To support the drama & theatre curriculum we attempt to expand students’ experiences of theatre and see as many West End and Off West End productions as possible; we are always looking for new innovative productions for the students to see.
Year 7
The aim is to build the students’ drama skills, ability to perform scripts and grapple with the work of Shakespeare.
Term 1 and 2 : PoS Peter Pan and Neverland – building drama skills and techniques
Term 3 and 4: PoS Roald Dahl – exploring and performing scripts
Term 5 and 6: Exploring Shakespeare
Year 8
The work becomes more challenging exploring physical theatre, a moving adaptation of The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas and finally the ability to create original work based on the thought-provoking topic of the refugee crisis.
Term 1 and 2: PoS Physical Theatre
Term 3 and 4: PoS The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas
Term 5 and 6: PoS Devising Drama and Theatre – Refugees
From Year 9, students start the GCSE course and we followed the AQA specification. The course requires students to create an original performance and document their process through a portfolio. Students have to perform a published play and study a set text for the written exam as well as evaluate live theatre. Students study all aspects of the theatre making process and will learn the ability to perform, direct and design.
Year 9
Term 1: Acting Skills Workshops
Term 2: Theatre Styles and History
Term 3 and 4: Blood Brothers – preparing for the written paper
Term 5 and 6: Mock Component 2 – Devising drama and writing devising log
Year 10
Term 1: Theatre practitioners – Stanislasvski, Brecht and Artaud
Term 2: Mock Component 3 – Monologues
Term 3 and 4: Mock Component 1 – Noughts and Crosses
Term 5 and 6: Official Component 2 Exam – Devising Drama and devising log
Year 11
Term 1 and 2: Com 1 Live Theatre Evaluation and Component 3 Texts in Practice
Term 3 and 4: Component 3 Text in Practice and Component 1 Understanding Drama
Term 5 and 6: Component 1 Understanding Drama (Noughts and Crosses and Live Theatre Evaluation)
Drama & Theatre Specification – VIEW HERE
At A Level, we follow the Edexcel specification. Students will learn and enhance the skills and knowledge gained from GCSE. Students create original theatre, exploring more challenging plays, theatre practitioners and renowned companies. Students will enhance their ability to perform, direct and design.
Year 12
Term 1: Theatre Practitioners, Com 3 That Face,
Term 2: Component 1 Devising and Com 3 That Face
Term 3: Com 1 Devising and Com 2 Monologues
Term 4: Com 2 Monologues, Com 3 Woyzeck
Term 5 and 6: Com 1 Devising (Official)
Year 13
Term 1 and 2: Com 3 Live Theatre Evaluation, That Face and Woyzeck; Com 2 monologues and group performance
Term 3 and 4: Com 2 monologues and group performance; Com 3
Term 5 and 6: Com 3
The Drama department at Sydney Russell is thriving! We produce a school musical, a KS4/5 play and KS3 play every year. Highlights have included Guys and Dolls, Medea, Alice in Wonderland, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors. Over the past few years, students have worked alongside the Barbican Centre, Complicite Theatre, Toneelgroep Amsterdam and Slung Low Theatre producing work at the Barbican Stage, Rich Mix studios and the Broadway Theatre. We regularly showcase students’ work at various events throughout the school year.
How to support your child
In key stage 3 students will often be sent home with a script to learn and the accompanying success criteria. The best way to support your child is by supporting them learning their script. This is best achieved through repetition; allow them to revise their lines, then test their memory of their lines and prompt a few words if necessary. You can then use the criteria to provide feedback to your child to help develop their performance further.
Any experience of theatre is beneficial; Ms L. Peck can recommend suitable performances for all ages and prices that you can enjoy as a family.