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The syllabus for GCSE Drama is AQA 3241. Click here
to view mark schemes and past papers on the AQA website.
Performance.
Students will be assessed on:
• Use appropriate vocal and physical skills, with clarity, fluency,
control, appropriateness of character and situation, with pace, projection,
vocal and physical flexibility, timing and spatial awareness
• Work in role to create a character or characters: interpret role(s)/character(s)
with creativity and originality; sustain role(s)/character(s); show an awareness
of audience
• Respond to the stimulus/texts/theme showing understanding of their
dramatic possibilities, including exploring relationships and comparisons
between texts and/or dramatic styles of different periods and/or of different
cultures in order to show an awareness of their social context and genre.
Incorporating several creative elements through a devised theatrical piece
for performance, including such varieties as dance, monologue, duologue, music,
singing and acting skill.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of their work and that of others in both
the process of development and the performance Candidates should be aware
of health and safety factors relevant to the presentation of performances.
Written Exam- Set Play ‘The Crucible’.
Students need to revise ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, using the revision
guide given before the Easter break.
Candidates should study their chosen set texts from a practical perspective
and from the viewpoint of performance.
In preparing for the examination, and in their answers, candidates should
be aware of the potential effectiveness for an audience. They should be able
to demonstrate their understanding of practical skills, their knowledge and
understanding of the chosen play from a performance perspective, and analysis
and evaluation of the effectiveness of their ideas. They should also be aware
of the social context and genre of the play.
Within each question candidates will be offered an alternative of either a
performance or design perspective from which to approach their answer.
Candidates are expected to take plain copies of the chosen play(s) into the
examination.
Written Exam- Response to Live Productions seen During
the Course
Candidates are required to review a production of
live professional or non-professional theatre that they have seen. The production
for GCSE Year 11 this year is Blood Brothers which shall be viewed live in
London after Easter.
Candidates are required to have studied the text before or after seeing the
production and to be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding
of the text.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate:
• a clear understanding of the play and the production seen;
• informed criticism of the acting performances and the skills involved;
• informed criticism of the technical and design elements and the skills
involved;
• their response to the effectiveness of the production as a whole.
Candidates may take into the examination room personal notes relating to the
production(s) seen which will be developed in class with assistance from Miss
Mackie.
Tips and Advice When Going to See a Live Performance
Students should consider these aspects of the production:
• Characterisation
• Voice- accent, pace, timing, emotional range, clarity, articulation
• Physical qualities- movement, posture, gesture, facial expressions
• Visual Qualities- costume, make-up
• Design qualities- scale, shape, colour, texture, use of stage space,
set
• Use of scenic devices, lighting, sound
• Social context and genre
Suggested Reading for Students
• AQA GCSE DRAMA. Joy Morton, Ron Price, Rob Thomson. Consultants: Jon
Taverner, Russell Whiteley.
This is designed to help you get the highest grade you can in your GCSE Drama
examination. Written by experienced examiners and teachers, it shows you what
examiners are looking for in both coursework and the written paper. The book
is full of lively, interesting material to help you practise the skills you
need. ISBN 0 435 18611 6
• ANALYZING PERFORMANCE — Theater, Dance, and Film. Patrice Pavis.
Translated by David Williams.
This book provides conceptual tools for understanding a range of performance,
including theatre dance, cinema, other audio-visual media, and mime. This
richly illustrated book develops protocols for the analysis of performance
at every level — from the minute gestures and facial expressions of
an actor to the social network in which theatre is embedded — and respects
the importance of every aspect of performance, including actor, costume, space,
time, music, and lighting. ISBN 0 472 06689 7
• THE GCSE DRAMA COURSE BOOK — For Use With All GCSE Drama Specifications.
Andy Kempe
The process of playmaking. Characterisation. Dramatic style. Drama in movement
and sound. Tackling issues through drama. Responding to plays.
This is firmly based on practical explorations of how to make, perform and
respond to drama. It employs a wide range of methods to cover research, improvisation,
script writing, design and presentation. The resources used to simulate drama
are exciting and varied, ranging from photo-love stories and poems to fine
art and contemporary plays. ISBN 0 7487 6773 8
• TEACH YOURSELF LITERATURE GUIDES
The Crucible — Iona McGregor, with Tony Buzan
• YORK NOTES FOR GCSE
The new editions are packed with detailed summaries, commentaries, on key
themes, characters, language and style, illustrations, exam advice and much
more. Written by GCSE examiners and teachers, York Notes are the authoritative
guides to exam success.
   
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