Study at PSC

Welcome to Drama and Theatre A Level.

This course provides an exciting opportunity to study drama and theatre as a single subject as part of a flourishing department. You will extend your skills in both the understanding of theatre and the performance of drama. You will work in specialist facilities, be involved in a wide range of performance tasks and take part in a variety of workshops. You will need to have a real commitment to the study of theatre, both academically and practically. You will explore many styles of performance and attend exciting and diverse professional theatre productions.

Year 1:

In your first year you will study two set plays. You will have the opportunity to perform and direct key sections of your set text during lessons. The practical exams will be the performance or design of a re-interpretation of a play in the summer which will adopt the style of a practitioner studied on the course with supporting coursework.

Year 2:

In your second year you will study a third set play from the perspective of an actor and designer. These three set texts over the two-year course will form the basis of your written examination in the June of this year. The two practical exams in the second year will include devising an original piece of theatre as a group performance and performing or designing for an extract of any published play; both with supporting written coursework.  Over several years students have been offered the opportunity to attend a creative and cultural residential theatre trip to Paris.

Classes will involve reading, discussions, presentations and practical tasks in support of different elements of stagecraft. In addition to performance skills, you will develop skills in critical analysis, observation, interpretation and communication. You will experience a range of practical and academic projects, including Layers of Theatre exploring many key aspects and skills involved in creating a piece of theatre. Such activities are supported by our excellent, full time Theatre Manager and senior technician.

There are two series of practical exams across the two years, firstly in July of Year 1 and then in March of Year 2 and the A level written paper is in June of Year 2.

A level Drama and Theatre leads on to many Higher Education courses and professional training in Drama and other Art and Humanities subjects.  The transferable skills the subject offers are also highly valued in vocational areas including the media and television, teaching and arts administration.

There has usually been an annual “upfront” payment of approximately £120 to cover the costs of theatre trips and professional workshops. However, this will be reviewed in September 2024.

There are compulsory play texts required to be purchased each year amounting to approximately £45. The College has a Student Support Fund for those students who have difficulty meeting these costs.

There are lots of exciting work experience opportunities. We liaise with local theatres and have connections with some highly successful ex-students and Theatre Companies. One of our teachers is a professional actor which provides us with a great deal of industry links.