The focus of this rich and creatively challenging course will be on the role of performance art in society, its power and purpose. It is intended that students will gain an understanding of how theatre can mirror life and influence and affect those who consume it and create it. The course aims to provide an overview of world theatre traditions and develop the skills needed to create powerful, engaging and purposeful theatre.

The Theatre course consists of three equal, interrelated areas:

Theatre in Context

The Theatre in Context area of the course allows students to consider the three contexts in which theatre can be created, presented and experienced by an audience. Its primary aim is to encourage students to investigate the personal, theoretical and cultural contexts of theatre.

Theatre Processes

The Theatre Processes area of the course allows students to explore the different processes involved in making theatre from the perspectives of creator, designer, director and performer, in order to develop the skills required to make theatre, and to observe and reflect on processes used in different theatre traditions and performance practices from around the world.

Presenting Theatre

The Presenting Theatre area of the course requires students to both present their ideas about theatre and to take part in actual theatre performances. It provides opportunities for them to apply their practical theatre skills, either individually or collaboratively, through a range of formats: theatre productions, oral presentations and demonstrations, journals and at Higher Level (HL), solo performances. Students are required to explore this area from the perspective of creator, director, performer and designer.

 

Content

Each area is critically linked the knowledge and skills gained in the others. The journal is a means of recording personal growth in theatre and lays a foundation for the four main assessments. The maintenance of the journal is a requirement of the course.

Students will undertake a study of key aspects of world theatre traditions, through research and textual analysis and will also explore these eras through performance and response. It is intended that conclusions will be drawn on the ongoing relevance of these styles and forms. A prime focus throughout will be the cultural diversity of all source materials.

Students will experience collaboratively creating original theatre, researching and examining the various contexts of at least one starting point (idea, issue, theme, non-dramatic text, music, object, image, event or site) and at least one professional theatre company that collaboratively creates original work.

Theatre students also create work based on theatre theory, creating, presenting and evaluating at least one theatre piece based on an aspect(s) of a theatre theorist’s work they have explored.

There will be opportunities to view numerous live professional productions and work with play texts, generally by directing and presenting at least one scene or section from one published play text to others.

 

Aims

The aims of the Theatre course at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) are to enable students to:

• Explore theatre in a variety of contexts and understand how these contexts inform practice (theatre in context)
• Understand and engage in the processes of transforming ideas into action (theatre processes)
• Develop and apply theatre production, presentation and performance skills, working both independently and collaboratively (presenting theatre)

At Higher Level (HL):

• Understand and appreciate the relationship between theory and practice (theatre in context, theatre processes, presenting theatre).