It is expected that students will have achieved at least a Grade 6 in both English GCSEs before you start the course.

It is useful to have taken Drama at GCSE but not essential and it is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work, and that you are keen to be involved in practical work as both actor and director.

The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. You will extend your ability to create theatre in performance. You will also be required to write about theatre and to develop your powers of analysis, becoming an informed critic. The course will involve creating your own piece of theatre as well as studying plays, playwrights and theatre practitioners through practical and written work.

The structure of the specification is a mixture of written and practical units.

A-Level

Component 1: Devising

Non-examination assessment, 40% of the qualification

• Devise an original performance piece.
• Use one key extract from a performance text and a theatre practitioner as stimuli.
• Portfolio submission

Component 2: Text in Performance

Non-examination assessment, 20% of the qualification

• A group performance/design realisation of one key extract from a performance text.
• A monologue or duologue performance/design realisation 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

• Live theatre evaluation – choice of performance.
• Practical exploration and study of a complete performance text – focusing on how this can be realised for performance.
• Practical exploration and interpretation of another complete performance text, in light of a chosen theatre practitioner – focusing on how this text could be reimagined for a contemporary audience.

Higher Education at degree or HND level. It can be used as part of your course to broaden your studies and may lead on to a career in the performing arts industries. Theatre Studies A-Level complements a range of subjects and is useful in building confidence and improving presentation skills in a range of careers.