DRAMA & Theatre Studies

Transition booklet

Welcome!

Welcome to the Oaks Park Drama Department. We’re delighted you’ve chosen to continue with Drama and we’re really looking forward to working with you all over the next two years.

Studying Drama and Theatre Studies at A-level

You will: Learn the skills of Acting, Directing and Design Become knowledgeable of all things theatrical Develop skills as a critique of plays and other drama mediums Develop your imagination and creativity Become a more confident and articulate person Be able to communicate effectively at all levels Develop important social, personal and cognitive skills Develop close working relationships with your fellow Drama Students Be able to work effectively as part of a team and independently Broaden your critical thinking about the world around you

How the course is delivered

Practical explorations of idealogies and theories of theatre practitioners and contemporary theatre companies

Practical explorations and interpretations of play-texts Discussion forums The sharing and presenting of research Written and theory classroom lessons Creation and development of practical work for mock and exam purposes

Department expectations

You are expected to attend ALL lessons You must keep notes on ALL lessons, both practical and theory You are expected to complete regular written assignments Meet deadlines Remain committed to extra rehearsals outside of lesson time during exam preparations Research practitioners, contexts, plays, playwrights, directors and companies when required Read lots of plays Keep up to date with things of theatrical relevance Treat each other with courtesy and respect

Summer tasks

1: Watch a theatrical performance (live or recorded) and write a 1000 word review focusing on use of movement or voice, and staging. You may wish to do extra research in order to support this.

2: Complete detailed research on 2 of the following practitioners/companies:

Bertolt Brecht Antonin Artaud Jacques Le Coq Punchdrunk Frantic Assembly

This research will be invaluable as you prepare for your performance exams and production concept.

Your work can be presented in any format (multi-media, PowerPoint, poster, hand-out, essay etc.) but must include really detailed research – it must be in your own words and not cut and pasted.

Use these questions as a basis to help structure and guide your research:

1. History about how they came into the theatre 2. Information about their chosen style of performance 3. When did they establish their practice? 4. What are their aims for their theatre?5. How do they achieve this? 6. Who influenced them and how?7. What shows have they produced/directed/written, and when?8. How did audiences react to their work?9. What kind of material does their work explore?10. What do other practitioners say/think about them?11. Have they influenced other practitioners?12. What impact have they had on theatre? 13. What books have they written or had written about them?14. What is their approach to actor training/rehearsals?

3: Read a play of your choice, this should be a new play and not something studied as part of your GCSE Drama or English courses. You need to be prepared to talk about this play in your first lesson in September.