Drama & Theatre Studies
Plays and performances will take you into other worlds, help you empathise with other lives, inspire you to communicate in other ways. Drama and Theatre Studies is skill and theory-based learning where each element supports and enriches the other.
At many points in our students’ 21st century working lives, they will be required to communicate on more public platforms; they will be called upon to collaborate in teamwork, communicate their ideas with others, or be faced with the challenge of delivering success under stress. Drama is a subject with all of those core skills at its heart.
The drama curriculum, both in and out of the classroom, is driven by our desire to provide students with a broad range of opportunities: chances to build skills; to collaborate; to create, perform and appreciate; and to communicate, with analytical preparation, but also, on occasions, in the moment! These skills and experiences are what help shape Monkton students into confident, diligent, appreciative and cultured young adults.
GCSE
Choosing GCSE Drama isn’t just about the stage – it’s about building life skills that will set you apart in the future, equipping you with the tools to succeed in any career. Employers highly value creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork – all of which are at the heart of what you’ll learn in Drama. Drama also sharpens your emotional intelligence, empathy, and ability to adapt, preparing you to thrive in any environment.
What will I learn at GCSE?
You will develop creative and analytical skills by exploring drama from acting and design perspectives. The course promotes enjoyment of drama through practical work, including creating original theatre and performing extracts from play texts. You will study theatre practitioners and genres, experiment with dramatic forms and techniques, and learn how to interpret texts for performance. Opportunities to attend live theatre will help you become an informed and thoughtful audience member. You will also develop skills in working collaboratively, producing high-quality theatre, and demonstrating your understanding in a written examination.
How is the course structured?
The course is structured into three components.
- Component 1: You will participate in the creation, development and performance of a piece of devised theatre in response to a stimulus.
- Component 2: You will study two extracts from the same play and then create a performance using sections of text from both extracts.
- Component 3: Exam at the end of year 11 that will test your knowledge of both a set text and live theatre.
How is the course examined?
The course has 3 examined components. As well as a final written exam, there are 2 performance exams. Component 1 is internally assessed (and externally moderated) in the Summer Term of Year 10. Component 2 is externally assessed by a visiting examiner in the Lent Term of Year 11.
A Level
Drama and Theatre nurtures creativity, communication, and critical thinking, skills highly valued by employers. You’ll develop teamwork, confidence, and the ability to present ideas effectively, both on stage and in writing. It’s a subject that promotes empathy, resilience, and adaptability, preparing you for a broad range of future careers.
What will I learn at A level?
You will explore how theatre communicates meaning to an audience through performance and design. You’ll study influential practitioners, reinterpret scripts, and devise original work in response to a stimulus. You will develop a practical understanding of acting, directing, and design while refining your written analytical skills. You will also experience live theatre and learn how to evaluate performances. The course encourages artistic independence, collaborative working, and a deep understanding of how performance can reflect and challenge the world around us.
How is the course structured?
The A Level is split into three components.
- Component 1: studied in Year 12, is a reinterpretation of an extract from a play using the techniques of a chosen theatre practitioner.
- Component 2: studied in Year 13, involves creating and performing two pieces: one devised and one from a published script. Each is developed through a different theatrical style.
- Component 3: studied across both years, is a written exam covering three set texts. You’ll study the roles of performer, designer, and director across all components. Throughout, you’ll build practical and theoretical understanding of drama, performance, and theatrical production.
How is the course examined?
The course is assessed through a combination of practical performance and written analysis.
- Components 1 and 2 (60%) are non-exam assessments: one is marked internally and moderated by the exam board; the other is externally examined by a visiting examiner. Both involve performing or designing, plus written evidence of process and evaluation.
- Component 3 (40%) is a 21⁄2 hour written exam analysing two set texts and one extract. It assesses how theatre is developed and performed, including acting, design, direction, and interpretation. Across all components, you’ll be marked on creativity, understanding, application of theory, and critical reflection.
What could I do next?
Drama A Level leads to careers in the arts, media, education, law, and business. It builds transferable skills of confidence, communication, leadership, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. Ideal skills for university, apprenticeships, and any profession valuing collaboration, creativity, and articulate self-expression.