Exam Board: Edexcel
Component 1 – Devising
Content overview:
- Devise an original performance piece.
- Use one key extract from a performance text and a theatre practitioner as stimuli.
- Performer or designer routes available.
Component 2 – Text In Performance
- A group performance/design realisation of one key extract from a performance text.
- A monologue or duologue performance/design realisation from one key extract from a different performance text.
Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice
- Live theatre evaluation – choice of performance.
- Practical exploration and study of a complete performance text – focusing on how this can be realised for performance.
Practical exploration and interpretation of another complete performance text, in light of a chosen theatre practitioner – focusing on how this text could be reimagined for a contemporary audience.
Component 1 – Devising
40% of the qualification
80 marks in total
This component is internally assessed and externally moderated. There are two parts to the assessment:
1) a written 3000-word portfolio (60 marks)
2) the devised performance/design realisation (20 marks)
Component 2 – Text In Performance
20% of the qualification
60 marks in total
This component is Externally assessed:
- Group performance/design realisation: (36 marks)
- Monologue or duologue/design realisation: (24 marks)
Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice
Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
40% of the qualification
80 marks
Section A: Live Theatre Evaluation: 20 marks
Students answer one extended response question from a choice of two requiring them to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen in light of a given statement. Students are allowed to bring in theatre evaluation notes of up to a maximum of 500 words.
Section B: Page to Stage: 36 marks
Realising a Performance Text
Students answer two extended response questions based on an unseen extract from the performance text they have studied. Students will demonstrate how they, as theatre makers, intend to realise the extract in performance. Students answer from the perspective of a performer and a designer. Performance texts for this section are not allowed in the examination as the extracts will be provided.
Section C: Interpreting a Performance Text: 24 marks
Students will answer one extended response question from a choice of two based on an unseen named section from their chosen performance text. Students will demonstrate how their re-imagined production concept will communicate ideas to a contemporary audience. Students will also need to outline how the work of their chosen theatre practitioner has influenced their overall production concept and demonstrate an awareness of the performance text in its original performance conditions. Students must take in clean copies of their performance texts for this section, but no other printed materials.
If you are aiming for drama school, A level Drama and Theatre is incredibly useful, and it is good preparation for Drama at university, and for Creative Writing courses. Learners considering joint courses in English and Drama should certainly consider studying both these subjects at A level.
Career routes within the arts sector could include:
There is no prerequisite to have taken GCSE Drama or any other drama training.
The course requires students to attend scheduled theatre trips outside of lesson times, either locally, in the West End or nationally. Additional rehearsal time, beyond the timetabled lessons are also a requirement of the course.