Drama
Curriculum Intent
Our aim is to provide students with a well-rounded drama education that both provides them with the skills to communicate and collaborate whilst also instilling an appreciation of theatre literature and different forms of drama. The creative nature of the subject ensures that students are able to consistently work together to problem solve and encourage each other to create the best work.
The Sunbury Manor KS3 drama curriculum is broad and allows both to prepare students for the subject at KS4 whilst also encouraging students to learn more widely about drama and theatre. In YR7 and YR8, the foundation skills of drama are built and developed through schemes of work including mime, masks, commedia dell’arte and physical theatre. Students in YR7 and YR8 are also introduced to the history of theatre, exploring where theatre started and how it has developed. Throughout KS3 students explore modern play texts, learning how to transfer from ‘page to stage’. YR9 drama students build on these skills but further their knowledge through the exploration of more challenging modern and classic texts. YR9 students also develop their creative skills through creating longer pieces of devised work, using stimulus to conceive ideas. In the latter part of the year, YR9 students explore the role of the designer in theatre.
At KS4 students will explicitly take on the role of the performer, director and designer as they work through the GCSE course. Students are challenged with creating high quality performance work, using theatre practitioner theories to help shape their work. GCSE students also study two play texts contrasting in genre, style and time.
Drama at Sunbury Manor School is a mostly practical subject and all students are expected to take part. The lessons are structured around Making, Performing and Responding with students communicating, problem solving and refining their work. An inclusive and energetic atmosphere is created in lessons to ensure students enjoy the subject and feel comfortable to fully take part. Enjoyment is at the core of lessons but with high expectations of a strong work ethic. Drama is taught in mixed ability groups with the intention that all students work with each other to achieve their full potential and acquire the skills needed to be a successful drama student.
Extra-Curricular activities are important in any drama department to stretch and enrich student experience. It’s a crucial opportunity for the creative arts faculty to come together and for as many students as possible to be involved, from selling tickets to designing and creating sets, to acting, to lighting and sound. We aim to stage a variety of different plays in order to stretch students and to expose them to different forms and styles of theatre. Our previous productions include High School Musical, Macbeth, a 1940’s style variety show, and a modern play The Changing Room produced within National Theatre Connections. It is also our aim to work with at least one professional external theatre company during the year. Our previous work with companies includes Peer Productions, The National Theatre and The Guildford Shakespeare Company.
‘After doing drama I feel I could walk into any room and talk to anyone!’ (ex-student) Drama prepares students for any pathway they wish to take and provides them with the skills to approach problems creatively, with confidence and with strong communication skills. It also prepares students who would like to pursue the subject further with skills and knowledge needed for A-Level and BTec courses.
The drama department at Sunbury Manor is staffed with two drama specialists whose interests cover new writing, comedy and devised work. Staff are also passionate about keeping up to date with changes in theatre and watching as much drama as possible! Sunbury Manor has one specialist space with a built-in lighting rig and one large rehearsal space. We also utilise the school stage for productions.
Curriculm Overview
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| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
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Y7
| Introduction to drama Basic skills: Still image Thought tracks Role play Mime Staging | Escape to Space Developing Skills: Improvisation Role Play Imagining a world Introduction to Physical/vocal skills | Darkwood Manor Developing Skills: Improvisation Role play Creating longer performances | Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations. Exploration of a performance text- ‘page to stage’ skills | Greek Theatre- 3 lessons- developing theatre knowledge/conventions
Devising- 3 lessons. Introduction to devising from a stimulus | Melodrama- 3 lessons Developing theatre knowledge- intro to style
Sweeney Todd- 3 lessons devising around a story |
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Y8
| Mime and Movement Re visiting mime Focus/development on the physical skills of drama Entrances and Exits Music and movement
Teamwork/communication | Private Peaceful Script work- development from Ernie (YR7)
Re-visiting blocking a scene Character work- developing emotion Context of the play- WW2 (link History/Life Skills)
| Basic Skills – 3 lessons Recap of basic skills: Still image, Thought track, Role Play, Staging Let him have it- story of Derek Bentley- 3 lessons Devising around a story- characters
| Soap Opera- Introduction to style, recap of melodrama Stereotypical characters | Romeo and Juliet- stage combat, exploration of Shakespeare’s language in performance. Devising around a text
| Physical Theatre Body Propping Creating a narrative Text work- page to stage using physical theatre |
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Y9
| Physical Theatre Body Propping Creating a narrative Text work- page to stage using physical theatre | Characters Exploring character Stereotypes- development of vocal and physical skills Over exaggeration Multi Role- playing 2 characters in a scene | Comedy Commedia Dell Arte, Comic characters, sketch, slapstick comedy | Devising- 3 lessons- introduction to genre/style. Devising- independent group work- 3 lessons introduction of stimulus
| Exploration of a performance text-
‘page to stage’ skills, character in performance | Theatre Review- 3 lessons. Watching and reviewing a devised performance
Tech Theatre- 2 lessons Using lighting and sound to enhance performance |
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Y10
| Practitioner workshops/Introduction to devising C1 Stanislavski/Brecht. Exploration of a stimulus- workshops | DNA by Dennis Kelly C3 Practical exploration of set text from perspective of performer/director/designer | DNA by Dennis Kelly cont. Exploring the written paper- 3 weeks Devising- 3 weeks Recap skills in devising from a stimulus.
| Performance of a text C2- whole class exploration of one performance text. Monologues/Duologues performance. | DNA by Dennis Kelly- C3 revision Live theatre review- trip to theatre, prep for theatre review answers | C1 Devising- final Portfolio/group rehearsing. |
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Y11
| Devising from a stimulus- Controlled assessment Portfolio work alongside practical rehearsals.
| Devising from a stimulus-controlled assessment. Performance of devised piece. Finish 1st draft of portfolio
Revision of DNA in prep for mocks. | Preparation for C2- performance of an extract. Monologues/Duologues. Rehearsal. | C2 performance early March.
C3 revision.
Theatre Trip for live review. | C3 revision. Theatre note prepared. |
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GCSE Specification
| Subject Leader: | Miss S Dhariwal |
| Contact: | sdhariwal@sunburymanor.surrey.sch.uk |
| Exam Specification: | Edexcel GCSE Drama 1DR0 |
| QN Code: | 601/8491/7 |
| Summary of course content Component 1 Devising 40%
Component 2: Performance from Text 20%
Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice 40%
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| Assessment Component 1 – Teacher assessed Two parts to the assessment:
Component 2 – Assessed by an external examiner Component 3 – Assessed by a written examination of one hour thirty minutes at the end of Year 11 Two parts to the assessment: Section A: Bringing Texts to Life- one question broken into 6 parts based on one extract from the chosen performance text. Section B: Two questions analysing and evaluating a live theatre performance. | |
| What type of activities take place in lessons? Predominantly practical tasks will shape the structure of activities in lessons and feed into written tasks. You will be expected work individually and in groups | |
| What type of homework tasks will be set? Reflective and evaluative writing tasks. You may also be required to keep a working journal | |
| How will it help me in the future? It will build your confidence, allow you to work independently and in groups and will give you fantastic transferable skills. If you want to take Drama beyond GCSE you have a variety of different options:
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| How will this course build on what I have studied in Year 9? It will deepen your understanding of making, performing and responding to drama. It will also build on your ability to recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of a performer, director and designer; understanding how performance texts can be interpreted and performed. | |
| What skills will I develop? Creativity – Ability and willingness to cope with uncertain situations and adapting to different personalities and cultures. Teamwork – Work effectively as part of a team, trust, active listening and negotiation. Communication – Non-verbal and verbal communication, reasoning and collaborative problem solving. | |