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Drama A Level – Alton

A Level

students in drama class

Availability & Details

Drama - A Level AF1-DRTSAL/C01

Venue
Alton Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
Academic Year 2025-26 (2 years)

Examination board
Pearson Education Ltd (Formerly EDEXCEL)

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Overview

This course provides an exciting opportunity to study and perform a wide range of theatrical styles, practitioners and texts, from Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ to contemporary plays such as ‘That Face’.You will work in specialist facilities to understand how playwrights are influenced by contextual factors such as society, economics, culture and politics. Design and staging techniques are also studied to gain the essential theatrical skills required to create your own dramatic work for an audience. Devising within your first year is student-generated and collaboratively directed, with teaching to support you in creating a vibrant and original piece of theatre.You will be practically assessed on group and monologue or duologue scripted work, carefully selected by your teacher. You will experience live theatre and learn the essential skills to analyse and evaluate the techniques employed by professional theatre companies. Ultimately, you will assume the role of director and generate an overall concept for a modern production of a classical text.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics.

Year 1, you will study:• A variety of exciting theatrical practitioners; Stanislavski, Brecht, Berkoff, Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh, Katie Mitchell and Joan Littlewood• Genres, styles, playwrights, and texts which inform the creation and staging of theatrical work• Modern writers and theatre productions; ‘That Face’ by Polly Stenham, breaking barriers and reaching young audiences with exciting, engaging, contemporary themes and issues• Devising; using an array of acting techniques, rehearsal and staging exercises to create an original piece of modern theatreYear 2 you will take part in:• Group performances; teacher- directed within a group to stage and extract from a play in the College theatre• Monologues/duologues; working with a partner and also individually, to produce a highly effective and dynamic piece of theatre• Theatre visits as a group to analyse and evaluate critically acclaimed theatre production• Directing; drawing upon all the experience and knowledge gained over the course to direct your own modern production of a classical text

Lessons are varied and engaging with activities including practical exploration of rehearsal exercises, devising & acting techniques and stage design using our purpose-built theatre. Discussion, research, presentations, debate and collaboration is actively encouraged. Written work is intrinsically linked to your practical exploration and a strong personal response is nurtured.

40% coursework, 20% group performance, monologue or duologue, 40% written exam.

Purchase of set texts will be approximately £45 over two years. Optional trips from £20 each.


The teaching and support was really great, the quality was really great, all the teachers really care about your education as well as your wellbeing, they take everything into consideration and they’re great.

Katie Whittingham, A Level student

There are lots of people at the college, each studying a diverse range of courses, people from all different areas come to study here, it creates a sense of community, there is a huge social aspect to college life across all courses.

Lee Backhouse, BTEC student

The teaching has been really good, I’ve loved all of my teachers, they’ve all been really nice and supportive.

Jodie Hook