Drama & Theatre Studies A-level

Component 1: Devising (40% of the qualification 80 marks)
In this component, you will devise an original performance piece using an extract from a play text and a theatre practitioner as stimuli. You will create a working portfolio which documents the journey of creating theatre and evaluate the performance you have created.

Component 2: Theatre Text in Performance (20% of the qualification 60 marks)
You will perform in a group performance of one key extract from a play text.  In addition, you will perform a monologue or duologue performance from one key extract from a different performance text.

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice (Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes 40% of the qualification 80 marks)
This is the written exam and allows you to write as an audience member, a director, a performer and a designer. You will write a live theatre evaluation in response to an argument about a performance you have seen live in the theatre. You will explore two complete texts – focusing on how they can be realised for performance – and how they could be reimagined for a contemporary audience.

It helps, as the structure of the courses is similar and it shows that you have an interest in the subject, but it is not compulsory. If you can evidence passion, experience, knowledge and skill in the subject, you have met the most important requirements for the course.

There isn’t, but there is a practical initial assessment task, as well as an essay task which is part of your flying start work. The practical initial assessment task takes place in the first week of the course, and you must either perform a two minute monologue or deliver a two minute presentation of a design concept for a monologue.

There is quite a lot! There is a large amount of practical work and assessment, but the final exam and one section of the coursework require essay writing, so there is lot of preparation for these written assessments throughout the course.