DRAMA

Drama is offered at Standard Grade, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Intermediate Specialist, Higher and Advanced Higher level at Dumfries Academy.

STANDARD GRADE
Standard Grade Drama is an exciting, practical, challenging and creative two year course which encourages you to use language, movement and theatre skills as a way of expressing what you think about the world around you. It involves you in exploring attitudes, values and relationships.

A series of Units with titles such as Trevain Castle, Whizz Through Theatre Arts, Runaway, Lessons for the Living, To be or Not to be, Page to Performance, Lights – Camera – Action! – focus on specific skills, themes and relationships providing a structured series of drama activities.

The Standard Grade course is divided into three sections:

Creating
Creative course work is mostly practical, supported by written tasks and assignments. The course structure allows you to work on your own, in pairs, in small and large groupings on a wide variety of activities such as mime, improvisation, role-lay, dance drama.

Presenting
You will get many opportunities to develop character and scenario and present these to your peers, to other classes and also to parents and friends. There will also be theatre trips organised to allow you the opportunity to experience a wide variety of live theatre performances.

Drama is also about Theatre. You will acquire basic knowledge in such areas as acting, set design, make-up, props, costume, lighting – all achieved through practical ‘hands on’ activities.

Knowledge and Understanding
This is the study of theatre practice and  theatre conventions and techniques which allow you to develop form and structure, staging, building character, theatre arts and working from a script. This part of the course is examined at the end of the two years.

Career Implications
Drama is an extremely valuable subject in today’s world. Not only does it encourage you to  be more creative, but it also makes an impact on your communication, problem solving and social skills. These are precious tools which are of benefit in all walks of life to help build confidence and self-esteem.

There are significant career prospects in a growing creative industry whether it be acting, design or direction in the theatre, film, broadcasting, media, public relations, marketing personnel, event management and educational drama.

INTERMEDIATE 1
Why study Intermediate Drama?
Intermediate Drama Course is a stimulating, exciting course designed for all pupils entering 4th, 5th and 6th year and who wish to continue with Drama.

Entry Requirements
This course is available to all pupils who have not done Standard Grade Drama or who have successfully achieved a Foundation or General Level at Standard Grade Drama.

Course Outline
Intermediate is made up of three very different but exciting units of study:

• Drama Skills uses creative drama activities such as role-play, characterisation, evaluating, devising and directing, to explore social attitudes and issues and by developing a wide range of drama and theatre skills
• Theatre Production Skills involves the study and use of range of theatre production skills such as acting, designing and directing as well as theatre areas of lighting, sound, make-up and costume.
• Production unit allows all pupils to work as a theatre company to stage a small-scale production.  Your involvement will be as an actor or as a member of the production team specialising in an area of Theatre Production Skills.  For intermediate 1 pupils, this will be an improvised piece and for intermediate 2 it will be text based.

Pupils
Pupils will follow a common Intermediate ½ course at the initial stages.  As skills and experience develop, pupils will then follow the level of courses appropriate for them.

Assessment
This course is very practical.  For both levels, it is assessed by a combination of internal and external assessment.  For all three units, a folio of work generated by the creative process will be assessed by the teacher.  A practical exam based on acting or a choice of theatre arts as well as written paper will be set and marked by the SQA.

Homework
Homework is issued at regular and frequent intervals.  It may take the form of, for example, a character information sheet, a detailed set design, an evaluation or learning lines.  All homework assignments reinforce the support of the work undertaken in class.

Core Skills
Problem solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating) and Working with Others.  Both these skills are crucial for life inside and outside school.

Progression
Successful completion of this course would lead to Intermediate 2 and Higher Drama.

INTERMEDIATE 2
Why Study Intermediate 2 Drama?
Intermediate 2 Drama is a stimulating, exciting course and is designed for anyone who is interested in exploring and developing their own, and others, creativity and learning more about theatre and theatre production skills.  It is a course which will aid your self-awareness, confidence, social and communication skills.

Entry Requirements
Most pupils study Intermediate 2 having completed Standard Grade Drama at General level.  No previous, or limited experience may be acceptable following discussion with the Principal Teacher.

Course Outline
Intermediate 2 Drama is made up of three units. 

• Drama Skills uses creative drama activities such as role-play, characterisation evaluating, devising and directing, to explore social attitudes, issues
• Theatre Production Skills involves the study and use of a range of theatre production skills such as acting, designing and using theatre technology
• Production allows you to work with others to stage a small-scale production.  You will be planning, designing, using theatre arts and acting.

Assessment
The course is assessed by a combination of internal and external assessment.  A folio of work is assessed by your teacher in accordance with SQA guidelines.  An assignment and practical examination are set and marked by SQA.

Homework
Homework is issued at regular and frequent intervals.  It may take the form of, for example, a character information sheet, a detailed set design or an evaluation.  All homework assignments reinforce and support work undertaken in class.

Core Skills
Intermediate 2 Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating) and Intermediate 2 Working with Others.  Both these skills are crucial for life inside and out of school.

Progressions
Successful completing of this course may lead to Higher Drama.

INTERMEDIATE SPECIALIST
Why study Intermediate 2 Drama?
Intermediate 2 Drama Specialist Course is a stimulating, exciting course designed for all pupils entering 4th, 5th and 6th year and who wish to continue with Drama.

Entry Requirements
This course is available to all pupils who have succeeded in their Standard Grade course at Credit or General level.

Course Outline
Intermediate 2 is made up of three very different but exciting units of study:

• Drama Skills uses creative drama activities such as role-play, characterisation, evaluating, devising and directing, to explore social attitudes and issues and by developing a wide range of drama and theatre skills.
• Theatre Production Skills involves the study and use of a range of theatre production skills such as acting, designing and directing as well as theatre areas of lighting, sound, make-up and costume
• Production unit allows all pupils to work as theatre company to stage small-scale production.  Your involvement will be as an actor or as a member of the production team specialising in an area of Theatre Production Skills.

Specialist Course
Aspects of this course would be tailored to incorporate areas of the Higher Drama course and allow opportunity for the development of skills and knowledge require for securing success at Higher.  This would be link Drama Skills with Investigative Drama Unit (H) and cover Scottish or Set Text (H) in the Production Unit.

Assessment
This course is very practical.  The course is assessed by a combination of internal and external assessment.  For all three units, a folio of work generated by the creative process will be assessed by the teacher.   A practical exam based on acting or a choice of theatre arts as well as written paper will be set and marked by the SQA.

Homework
Homework is issued at regular and frequent intervals.  It may take the form of, for example, a character information sheet, a detailed set design, an evaluation or learning lines.  All homework assignments reinforce and support the work undertaken in class.

Core Skills
Intermediate 2 Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating) and Intermediate 2 Working with Others.  Both these skills are crucial for life inside and outside school.

Progression
Successful completion of this course would lead to Higher Drama.

HIGHER
Why Study Higher Drama?
Drama celebrates creativity and this course is designed for anyone who has an interest in Drama and theatre.  It will give pupils knowledge and understanding of many aspects of theatre and develop acting and directing skills.  By participating pupils will develop self awareness, confidence and social skills.  There are lots of fantastic opportunities for creativity and pupils will be able to investigate, devise and direct your very own piece of Drama.  Pupils will even get the chance to go on some great theatre trips to see Contemporary Scottish Theatre.

Entry Requirements
Most pupils study Higher having completed Standard Grade Drama at Credit level.  A Grade 3 or no previous experience may be acceptable following discussion with the Principal Teacher.

Course Outline
Higher Drama consists of three units:

• Investigative Drama
• The Study of a Text in its Theatrical Context
• The Study of Contemporary Scottish Theatre

Each unit is explored practically and supported by written evidence and assignments.  You will also choose two acting roles, one from your set text and one from a Scottish play which you will perform in front of an external SQA examiner.

Assessment
The course is assessed by a combination of internal and external assessment.  For Investigative Drama, a NAB is undertaken after the dramas have been performed usually mid October.  For The Study of a Text in its Theatrical Context and The Study of Scottish Theatre, NABs are completed at appropriate points throughout the course.

Homework
Homework is issued at very regular intervals.  It may take the form of, for example, directional preparation, a rehearsal log, a dramatic commentary or an essay.  All homework assignments reinforce work undertaken in class.

Core Skills
Higher Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating) and Higher Working with Others.  Both these skills are crucial for life inside and out of school.

Progression
If you complete the course successfully, you can opt to do Advanced Higher.

ADVANCED HIGHER
Why Study Advanced Higher Drama?
Advanced Higher Drama provides a very  stimulating and challenging course in both the practical and academic aspects of Drama.  This course gives you the opportunity to explore and develop skills in acting, directing, set-design and creating and relies on pupils working both independently and as a part of a creative supportive team.  All three units provide pupils to take ownership of their own creativity and learning of drama.

Entry Requirements
You would normally be expected to have attained Higher Drama to pursue this course.

Course Outline
Advanced Higher Drama is made up of three units:

• Devised Dramainvolves each pupil in devising and directing a piece of theatre based on a theme issued by the SQA and with a focus on creative use of chosen source material.  Throughout the process, each pupil will demonstrate directing, acting and theatre arts skills.
• Special Study allows pupils to opt to specialise in one of the following areas – acting, directing or design based on one selected text.  They develop each specialism through practical and academic research and rehearsal.  This leads to producing a final practical piece which is assessed bay an outside examiner.
• Theories of Performance gives pupils an overview of twentieth century theories of directing through the study focussed on two leading theatre practitioners such as Stanislavski, Brecht, Brook and Grotowski.

Assessment
The course is assessed by a written examination, set and marked by SQA, a practical exam of the Specialist Study assessed by a visiting examiner and an internally assessed Devised Drama Review and Report.

Homework
Much of the work depends on individual research and preparation for practical activities in class.  Set homework will be issued as appropriate and at regular intervals.  This may take the form of an essay, folio items, a tutorial paper, Specialist Study research.

Core Skills
Higher Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating).

Progression
Successful completion of this course may lead to HNC, HND or Degree Courses or employment in Drama, Media and the Performing Arts.