Courses

Drama

Year 11 and 12 ATAR Pathway|Performing Arts

Drama

Sarah Combes
Curriculum Leader - The Arts

Drama

Conrad Hogg

Drama is a vibrant, active and evolving art form that develops a range of highly desirable and transferable skills in creativity, collaboration and communication. Through a curriculum of acting technique, performance style, production design; including set, costume, sound and lighting, script interpretation, direction and devising original work, students will develop their creative imagination, flexibility of thought, and the confidence which comes from the empowerment of self-expression and sense of identity. Drama encourages students to think more rigorously through their engagement with issues, through embodied cognition, achieved by building empathy through an exploration of perspectives. The versatility and opportunities presented through the Year 11 and 12 Drama programme will challenge, stimulate and inspire.

Harry Gilchrist, School Captain 2019, ATAR Drama student.

“Acting is much more than simply playing a role or character; it is appealing and connecting to the emotions, thoughts and ideas of an audience, challenging how we think and exploring what it means to be human. Since then, I have sought out characters that would present a challenge and allow me to take creative risks.”

Patrick Eastough, Residential Captain and Drama Captain 2020, ATAR Drama Student

“Drama for me has opened up new ways of thinking I previously thought were not possible, the ability to improvise and adapt to certain situations is one I treasure deeply.”

Josh Keatch, Keys House Captain 2020, ATAR Drama Student.

“Drama is a unique subject that allows me to develop skills that aren’t offered in other subjects such as confidence building and exploring your voice and physicality. Drama has been an influential aspect of my Scotch journey and the class I look the most forward to each day.”

Arad Rad, Vice Captain of Drama 2020, ATAR Drama Student

“Drama is the perfect balance of learning content efficiently whilst enjoying every single class. Having like-minded peers and remarkable teachers allows me to make unforgettable memories. Drama has always been the pinnacle of my school hours.”

Courses

Year 11 ATAR Course

Unit 1 - Representational, Realist Drama

“With a developed imagination there’s no place you can’t go.” Sanford Meisner

One of an actor’s greatest tools is their imagination. Students will learn how to think creatively through the study and application of acting techniques developed by Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner. The practical component of the course will focus on the interpretation and group performance of a scene from a contemporary Australian dramatic text, which will then inspire an issue based devised performance, intended to inspire change and challenge audiences. The final practical task will see students apply and integrate their skills through their analysis and performance of a scripted monologue of their choice. In the theoretical component, students will be introduced to production design roles in the professional world of theatre, through exposure to live international and local performances.

Unit 2 - Presentational, Non-Realistic Drama

Students move into new territory with their creative practice as actors, directors and designers. Through the lens of world theatre and engaging with both historical and contemporary dramatic texts, students will discover the dynamic role of theatre-makers in challenging conventional thinking and instigating revolution. Students have the opportunity to research, workshop, interpret, devise and perform work for a public audience. As part of this final performance, students will undertake a role within the production design team.

Assessments
  • Performance/Production
    40%
  • Response
    40%
  • Examination
    20%

    There will be examinations at the end of each semester and/or unit.

Year 12 ATAR Course

Unit 3 - Reinterpretation of Drama for Contemporary Audiences

The reinterpretation and reimagining of dramatic texts, opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities and innovative ways of telling stories through performance. Students will expand on their knowledge and application of theoretical and practitioner approaches, to shape their interpretation of contemporary Australian texts. The exploration of physical and text-based approaches will challenge students as they encounter alternative methods in process and performance towards the realization of a dramatic text.

Unit 4 - Contemporary and Devised Drama

Students engage in experimental and collaborative methods of devising work through multi-disciplinary approaches, inspired by the work of contemporary theatre innovators, Complicite and Robert LePage’s Ex Machina. These methods will inform the rehearsal process and performance of a pivotal scene from Samuel Beckett’s End Game. The final chapter of the Year 12 course will be showcased in a public performance of the Original Solo Production, a dramatic work conceived entirely by the student, as they step into the role of playwright, director, designer and actor.

Assessments
  • Performance/Production
    30%
  • Response
    30%
  • Examination
    40%

    There will be examinations at the end of each semester and/or unit.

    All students enrolled in the Drama ATAR Year 12 course are required to sit the WACE examination. The examination is based on a representative sampling of the content for Unit 3 and Unit 4. Students will sit a written examination of 2.5 hours and complete a practical examination.