Performing Arts

 

Drama -  Music

 

 

 

Who's who: (list of staff) Include areas of responsibility e.g. 2nd in Department

 

Mr C Stevenson	Head of Department
Miss K Hewitt	Full time Drama tutor
Mrs H Lambert	Full time Drama tutor
Mr P Gray	Full time Drama tutor

 

 

Year 7 Drama

 

 
Details of KS3

 

Term 1A Introduction to Theatre/ Drama

 

 

 

Term1B Applying strategies to stimulus

 

Students will be introduced to the concept of a stimulus in order to explore an issue, text or situation and therefore develop their understanding and use of the drama strategies.  The stimulus could be a poem, picture, object or piece of text.

 

 

 

Term 2a Storytelling

 

Students will be introduced to basic physical theatre techniques in workshop style.  They will then apply these techniques to a simple script which they have created themselves based on a story provided by their teacher.   Their assessment pieces should demonstrate their ability to tell a story using physical theatre and narration. 

 

 

 

Term 2b Cultural diversity - Myths/legends

 

Students will explore other cultures through myths and legends applying skills and strategies covered in term 1 and 2.   This culminates in group performances of the chosen myth or legend incorporating the skills listed below.

 

 

 

Term 3a Theatre History

 

Students will be introduced to theatre from the past in order to understand the origins and development of theatre over time eg Greek theatre, medieval theatre or Elizabethan theatre.  Students will explore the period of theatre history in a practical way and then apply this to a text. Their understanding of the style and genre can then be demonstrated by applying the relevant skills and style to short extracts of script, for example a Mummers play.

 

 

 

Term 3b Cross curricular projects

 

Individual teachers in the department will work on a cross curricular project with a view to producing work for public performance.  The choice of the topic and skills that the students cover are at the discretion of the teachers planning the projects. The aim of the project is for the Drama Department to have a positive impact on another area of the curriculum.

 

 
Year 8 Drama

 

Term 1a  Approaching script work

 

 

 

Students will develop their performance techniques in a series of workshops which focus on skills such as characterisation , status, stage business, and simple blocking.  These skills are then applied to a short script and performed as part of a standardisation assessment

 

 

 

Term 1b Slapstick – Golden Oldies

 

Students will explore slapstick techniques and legends from the black and white movies such as Chaplin, Buster Keaton or Laurel and Hardy.  These skills will then be put into a modern context and compared to modern slapstick performers.  The students will create short slapstick sketches in contemporary settings which can be filmed and shared with other groups.

 

 

 

Term 2a My home town - Industrial Revolution

 

Students will be involved in a cross-curricular project with History Department in order to explore their own cultural heritage e.g. the industrial revolution or the coal-mining industry.  This will allow the students to create improvisations which explore the life and working conditions of the time and develop their understanding in order to have an impact on the history curriculum.

 

 

 

Term 2b Theatre genre – Melodrama

 

Students will explore the genre of melodrama through a number of workshops.  These will focus on the melodrama style of performance focusing on developing the students’ physical and vocal techniques.   Students will then apply these techniques to a short melodrama script or extract which will be performed to an invited audience.

 

Term 3a mask

 

Students will be introduced to mask theatre. Using the Trestle Theatre masks students explore and develop physical expression through a series of Trestle theatre workshops. These skills will then be applied to the Commedia dell’arte unit in term 3b

 

 

 

Term 3b Theatre Genre- Commedia dell’ arte

 

Students will look at a genre of theatre from the past and identify the influences of Commedia dell’arte on modern theatre.  The students will explore the performance style of Commedia in a series of workshops and demonstrate these skills by applying them to a text.

 

 

 

Year 9 Drama

 

Term 1a symbolism

 

The students will explore the practitioner Artaud and the genre of symbolism in workshop based lessons which should culminate in a performance that has been devised in groups and “ employ symbolic representations or effects to communicate meaning” .  Students should also be encouraged to incorporate stage craft such as simple lighting, props and music.

 

 

 

Term 1b Exploration of social issues

 

Students will explore a social issue, such as runaways, disability or prejudices using drama strategies in order to “devise dramas in various forms, based on a range of challenging issues and themes.”  This unit could also give the students a very simple introduction to Brecht  before a more detailed approach to his work in year 10. The choice of social issue(s) is at the discretion of the teacher .  The students will be expected to research their given topic and incorporate their research into their work.

 

 

 

Term 2a Realism

 

Students will be introduced to the practitioner Stanislavski in order to explore the genre of realism and apply some of his simple techniques to a script or sections of text selected by the teacher.  Students will use props and costume in their assessment performance and suggest how lighting and sound/music could enhance their work.

 

 

 

Term 2b Theatre Genre – comic performance

 

Students will learn how to approach a script from a comic genre and learn basic comedy performance skills through a series of workshops.  Theses skills are then applied to a suitable script selected by the teacher, for example farce, pantomime or situation comedy.  The assessment performance should incorporate appropriate props, costume, lighting and music and could be performed to a lower school class or primary school in order to “design a performance for a suitable audience”.

 

 

 

Term 3a The development of drama

 

Students will look at the origins of theatre and how it has developed over time focusing on Greek and Elizabethan Theatre.  This will incorporate an introduction to staging and allow the students to have hands on experience of performing using different styles of staging.  The unit culminates in a short performance which uses text from one of the periods explored.  This links to Unit B5 BTEC 1^st Diploma and the GCSE unit 2 & 3 and will be revisited by those who continue to study the subject at KS5.

 

 

 

Term 3b Exploring different cultures of Theatre

 

Students have an opportunity to work with a specialised performance group/practitioner towards a project for the Arts festival (Iroko Theatre Company)  The aim is for them to learn about a particular culture and its theatrical traditions.  These skills and techniques can then be applied to a tale /legend/performance that culminates into a  performance as part of the Garforth Arts Festival Programme

 

 

 

Details of KS4:

 

The department offers the following courses:

 

BTEC First in performing Arts

 

EDEXCEL GCSE DRAMA

 

 

 

 

 

KS5 Curriculum

 

The department offers the following courses:

 

BTEC National in Performing Arts

 

EDEXCEL GCE DRAMA

 

 

 

Forthcoming events

 

‘Alice’ – School production February 2011 

 

Showcase season during April/May 2011 A showcase of examination work from year 11,12 and 13 students following the BTEC, GCSE or GCE courses