Year 7
Introduction to Drama: Myths and Legends

Discover myths and legends from different cultures around the world and bring them to life, creating the characters of gods and monsters using your imagination alongside learning new Drama techniques. Through the study of myths and legends from different cultures we will develop an appreciation for a range of cultures.

We will explore how graphic novels are being utilised as a new way to bring wider audiences to the theatre, looking at the range of graphic novels offered by the RSC and creating our own.

Script Exploration: Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl creates fantastic worlds within which we can explore. Bringing melodrama from the Wormwoods, creating nightmares with the BFG and stereotypes in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl offers so much to be explored in performance. Having had so many of his stories turned into successful stage productions, we will explore the responsibilities of key roles in the production team such as lighting, sound, costume and set designers before creating our own designs in each discipline.

Devising and improvising

Discovery through rehearsals is key when devising, performances can be changed by looking from a new perspectives, changing a time-period or the type of narrative. It is only through taking risks in our rehearsals that we can create the most imaginative and engaging performances. Devising allows the chance for those risks to be taken, as each new decision takes your performance down a new and exciting path. Exploring how we can create stories inspired by images, songs or words means we can draw creative inspiration from anywhere.

Year 8
A Monster Calls - Exploring Naturalism and Non-Naturalism

Storytelling is the centre of all performance, so what better way for a performance to begin than as a book? Students will bring to life the play based on Patrick Ness’ novel as it offers the opportunity to combine the styles of Naturalism and Non-Naturalism. Continuing to develop an appreciation for the work of a whole production, students will explore different ways to create lighting, sound, set and costume designs for the relevant characters and scenes.

Devising

Building on their understanding of devising from year 7, students will develop a greater understanding of Drama techniques and how to use them for specific effects when creating performances.

People aren’t always what they seem. Villains aren’t always the bad ones. Exploring stories from different perspectives students will build on their knowledge of devising to tell a well-loved story from a new perspective.

Live Theatre - Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Shrek The Musical

What is it that makes something funny? In this topic students will gain an understanding of the different elements of comedy. Watching them in performance and examining the role of a theatre critic, then reviewing one of the performances they have watched. Reviews are an important form of promotion for productions, but even more important and eye-catching are the promotional posters released to draw crowds to the theatre. Theatre marketers have a crucial role in designing, reviewing and finalising these promotional posters.

Year 9
Devising - Exploring current issues

Growing up in 2024 is exciting, but it also brings with it challenges - climate change, body image and social media to name a few. By providing students with the chance to discuss these issues and express their thoughts through the characters and storylines they create, they can develop their understanding and knowledge of the world around them. Devising is an important element of GCSE Drama should students wish to study this subject further and so by taking time to explore different methods of devising, stimuli and take risks students will gain in confidence when creating and performing their own work.

Ensemble performances

The decisions made in our teenage years, whatever they are, help guide us to the paths of our futures. Blackout is drawn from the words of a 15-year-old boy whose actions changed the rest of his life. Exploring family, wanting a sense of belonging and choices.

Students will explore a monologue ensemble performance of a script based on a true story. Bringing it to life in a non-naturalistic style, taking inspiration from a range of practitioners, theatre companies and performances to bring their performance to life. Blackout allows creative freedom for the performers, written as a monologue students are in control of the division of the script, staging and performance.

Live Theatre inspiring performances

More than 1 in 20 people in the UK start their own business. The creative industries being one of the fastest growing industries offers a lot of opportunity for young people. Whether your passion is acting on stage or working behind the scenes, it is important to understand all the elements that go into creating and running your own theatre company. Students will get the chance to choose a specialism – performing , designing or producing. They will work together to create their own theatre company, create a performance influenced by a live theatre production and true story.

Introduction to practitioners

Using movement to replace words allows us to present deeper meanings on stage in more abstract forms. Playing around with this form alongside music and dialogue allows actors to understand the many different layers to a performance, experts we will study in this field are Frantic Assembly, who have been perfecting their combination of movement, music and words for decades.

Stanislavski

When we watch a film, TV show or play we are drawn into the world of the characters, we believe they are real people. But how do the actors create this world for us? Through exploring Stanislavski's methods, we too can create our own worlds with realistic characters and scenarios. An influential practitioner, Stanislavski influenced Strasberg who created ‘method acting’. 

Exploration of exam stimuli

After learning about different practitioners, styles and ways to create a performance,  it can now be put into practice as students create their own devised performance from  one of four stimuli. Alongside this students will document their process as a chance to reflect on the journey their creation has taken.

Developing and devising

The devising process is an exciting one for any performer as they are offered the chance to create performance work that is meaningful to them and inspired by what they see and experience. Drawing on practitioners studied at the start of the year they will apply their techniques and processes throughout the development of their performance – as either an actor or designer.

Performances

Reflection is a vital skill for anyone to learn as it enables us to improve on our work as we move forwards, this skill will be taught and utilised to reflect on the successes and areas for improvement in the students' own work for devising. Learning about their strengths and where they can develop further as they head towards their scripted exam next year.

Exploration of the play ‘Find Me’ by Olwyn Wynmark

Find Me, based on a true story, explores a young girl named Verity, her battles with mental health and lack of understanding surrounding this in the 1970s. With the increasing developments and support for mental health now, it is important to explore the misunderstandings of previous generations, so we do not make the same mistakes and help those most in need.With themes and social issues that are prominent today, it enables us to review our own perceptions of mental health issues and the support that is provided not only to the patients but also their families.

Any link to the drama development as well???  Eg why is it important for actors to be able to portray challenging or contemporary issues?  Just delete if I’m talking rubbish!

Developing characterisation

Students will develop their understanding of Stanislavski, exploring two extracts of a script in depth and bringing them to life for a performance in front of a visiting examiner.

Learning to perform in front of others is an invaluable skill for young people as they develop in confidence and their ability to follow and brief or take on a role successfully engaging an audience.

Scripted performance

Understanding characters is much like understanding people, through the study of a text students develop empathy for people in situations different from their own. 

This can be done also through the experience of live theatre and watching an actor take on another role. Going to the theatre and watching a performance enables students to be inspired by this work in their own lives. The practice of analysis and evaluation of performance enables students to refine their reflective skills to appraise the work of others and appreciate the successes and limitations of creative work.

Throughout the course, GCSE students will deliver performances in order to build their skills.  Many of these are assessed as part of their GCSE and need to be performed in front of an audience.  Look out for the invitations to events that will be coming your way, where you can come and support the students and enjoy an evening at the theatre as they share their work with you!

To find out more about Performing Arts at Key Stage 5, please visit the JMF6 website: https://www.jmf6abingdon.co.uk/curriculum/curriculum-subjects/