Unit 1: Introduction to Drama

By the end of the first module, students should have developed their drama skills in preparation for their first performance (AO2). Whilst understanding and applying their theatrical skills is the primary objective of this project, they should also be able to understand how these skills create meaning on stage and be able to analyse and evaluate their performance work and the work of others.

• Vocal & Physical skills
• Blocking
• Freeze Frame
• Stage directions

Unit 2: Scripted Theatre – Our Day Out by Willy Russell

Students study the entire play but the focus in lessons is on the application of practical performance skills (e.g tone, gesture or facial expression). Last unit students were able to identify skills and apply them to short scene. To develop these skills further we want students to apply them better through the context of a play. By the end of this unit, students should have developed their performance skills (AO2). Whilst applying their theatrical skills is the primary objective of this project, they should also be able to understand how these skills create meaning on stage, be very familiar with the plot and the characters of the play they are studying. They should also be able to analyse and evaluate their performance work and the work of others.

• Cognitive memory – learning lines
• Application of vocal and physical skills
• Characterisation

Unit 3: Theatre Design

Students will continue exploring the play ‘Our Day Out’ but the focus will move from performance to design. Students will expected to make careful considerations to all elements of the design such as colour, fabric, scale and material and design their very own set. Students will present their design to the class outlining how the design links to the context of the play.

Key skills:

• Presenting
• Designing

Unit 1: Theatre Review

Students will explore lighting and sound through watching Midsummer Nights Dream alongside teacher led questioning and quizzes to help students learn key terminology. By the end of the module students will be able to write a review of their of the designs elements including context, description, analysis and evaluation.

Key skills:

• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Description

Unit 2: Scripted Theatre – DNA – Dennis Kelly

They study the entire play but the focus in lesson is on the application of practical performance skills (e.g tone, gesture or facial expression). Students have done a similar module in year 7 looking at ‘Our Day Out’ developing on from this students should be able to identify drama performance skills(AO2). Whilst applying their theatrical skills is the primary objective of this project, they should also be able to understand how these skills create meaning on stage, be very familiar with the plot and the characters of the play they are studying and able to analyse and evaluate their performance work and the work of others so in effect they fulfilling all the Assessment Objectives.

Key skills:

• Characterisation
• Application & range of performance skills
• Blocking

Unit 3: Devising with DNA themes

In the third term, students continue to study the same play that they began in the second term. This time the focus is quite different. As we are looking at AO1, they are using the knowledge of the play to inspire creativity to create their own piece of Drama. During this unit students will explore rehearsal techniques such as hot seating, thought tracking and improvisation. The idea is that students can then refer back to these techniques to help them develop characters or generate ideas within their devised work.

Key skills:

• Creativity
• Team Work
• Audience awareness

Unit 1: Scripted Theatre – Blood Brothers – Willy Russell

Students study the entire play but the focus in lesson is on the application of practical performance skills (e.g tone, gesture or facial expression). Students have done a similar module in year 7 looking at ‘Our Day Out’ & year 8 ‘DNA- Dennis Kelly’ developing on from this, students should be able to identify drama performance skills(AO2). Whilst applying their theatrical skills is the primary objective of this project, they should also be able to understand how these skills create meaning on stage, be very familiar with the plot and the characters of the play they are studying and able to analyse and evaluate their performance work and the work of others so in effect they fulfilling all the Assessment Objectives.

Key skills:

• Confidence
• Empathy
• Vocal and physical skills
• Blocking

Unit 2: Exploring plays – Blood Brothers – Willy Russell

In the second term, students continue to study the same play that they began in the first term. This time the focus is quite different. As we are looking at AO3, they are exploring the play in more detail (focussing on the characteristics of the play such as context, structures and themes). To learn about these various characteristics, I also teach students how to write about Drama. How to analyse quotes, how to interact with other characters to create an atmosphere using drama terminology and justifications. 

The idea is that students can then refer back to these techniques within new contexts helping them to develop characters or generate ideas within scripted or devised work.

Key skills:

• Analysing
• Evaluating
• Creativity

Unit 3: Devising with a stimulus

In unit 3, students will focus on an extended devising project. I intend to change stimuli each year to suit the group and current affairs, but essentially, these projects are about taking everything they have learned so far and creating an original piece of drama from an initial idea, right through to their fully realised performance, complete with design elements. They will have touched on design (set, costume, lighting and sound) when exploring plays in the first terms and in previous years (7&8) so this is their chance to apply design skills as much as possible with limited equipment.

Key skills:

• Character building
• Vocal and physical skills
• Blocking
• Creativity
• Team Work