Drama

The Madras College Drama Department is inclusive and promotes an ethos of mutual trust and respect, where students can be themselves in a comfortable and supported environment. We aim to develop your creativity, communication, versatility, and imagination through a collaborative working model: all of which can have a significant and positive impact on developing your confidence, self-belief and resilience. Access to and passion for the arts is at the heart of what we do, encouraging you to have a lifelong love of drama and performance, whilst empowering you with key transferable skills which are great benefit in your personal life and future career. Drama presents pupils with a variety of chances to experience the enjoyment of the art form, as well as to be inspired. Pupils will experience many opportunities to showcase their acting, devising and theatre arts skills to a variety of audiences which will lead to a deeper understanding of the course theory. There is an emphasis on allowing the pupils to explore the world and issues surrounding them creatively through collaborative devised work. In addition to this, pupils will also use ICT and technology to enhance theatre productions, allowing them to gain vital experience of undertaking the full range of roles available in the industry.

‘The theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and the social situation.’ – Stella Adler

Staff list

Mrs Garrie (PT Drama)
Mrs Hall
Ms McGrath
Mrs Day

Click on the Drama Classroom for useful drama resources.

Course Overviews

S1 Drama

Overview

As part of the Expressive Arts Faculty, Drama

enables pupils to experience the inspiration and power of the Arts.
recognises & nurtures creative and aesthetic talents.
allows pupils to develop skills and techniques.
provides opportunities to explore Scottish Culture and the wider world.
provides opportunities for pupils to contribute to presentation and experience the excitement of live performance.

In Drama pupils will develop social skills that will equip them for life, in particular:

Confidence
Cooperation
Communication
Problem Solving
Teamwork

Course Content

The S1 course provides pupils with a range of skills and opportunities and includes:

A mime unit
A role play unit
A pantomime unit
A Scottish unit
A theatre in context unit

All of these units incorporate the use of co-operation, concentration, imagination and listening. They provide pupils with communication skills, exploration of voice and language, reflecting and evaluating their own work and that of others.

Throughout the course, pupils will also engage in Warm Up Activities and Drama Games

To warm up the body or voice and focus the mind
To increase concentration
To stimulate imagination
To encourage cooperation
To develop self discipline
To promote good teamwork and a positive ethos.

Homework

A short homework is issued for most of the topics mentioned above. Pupils should expect to set aside at least 10 - 15 minutes for each homework exercise. Most homework will take the form of written exercises to test knowledge and skills and to consolidate all learning, including literacy and numeracy. Homework will be posted on teams.

“Well, we can’t all come and go by bubble!” – Wicked

S2 & S3 Drama

Overview

Should pupils continue with Drama in S2 and S3 they will continue to develop their creative skills using co-operation, communication, imagination and confidence building. They will be required to perform in front of an audience presenting scripted and devised pieces of work. They will also have to reflect and evaluate their own work and that of others.

Course Content

Pupils will be involved in a variety of units including the use of:

Spontaneous Impro
Masks
Issue Based Drama
Form & Structure
Mood & Atmosphere
Script Writing
Mime and movement
Characterisation
Sound and Lighting
Devising and Presenting

To Although this is a two year course and mainly practical in nature, pupils will be expected to complete written work and evaluation for each unit.

Homework

‘Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary situations’ Stanislavski

Senior Phase Drama Courses

The Drama Department offers the following courses for S4 to S6 pupils.

National 4 Drama

Overview

In this Course, and its component Units, there will be an emphasis on skills development and the application of those skills. Assessment approaches will be proportionate, fit for purpose and will promote best practice, enabling learners to achieve the highest standards they can.

This Course provides learners with opportunities to continue to acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities, as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.

All Courses provide opportunities for learners to develop breadth, challenge and application, but the focus and balance of the assessment will be appropriate for the subject area.

Course Content

The Course uses an integrated approach to learning which develops practical skills as well as knowledge of drama.
As learners develop their creating skills, they will also learn how to use drama skills. They will experiment with presenting through portrayal of character and by using production skills.

Through creating and presenting drama, reflection skills will also be developed as learners reflect on their own skills and progress, and that of other learners. Learners will also consider the cultural values, identities and ideas which influence drama.

The Course consists of three mandatory Units, including the Added Value Unit. Each of the component Units of the Course is designed to provide progression to the corresponding Units at National 5.

Drama Skills

Pupils will explore and develop drama skills and ways of communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience. They will learn how to respond to stimuli. They will also learn how to develop portrayal of character and will develop knowledge of form, structure, genre and style when creating and presenting drama.

Pupils will develop knowledge of social and cultural influences on drama. They will also learn how to reflect on their own progress and that of other pupils.

Theatre Production Skills

Pupils will explore and develop production skills. They will use these skills to enhance drama when presenting. Pupils will use problem-solving skills in order to generate ideas for presenting drama.

Added Value Unit - Production

This Unit adds value by introducing challenge and application.

Pupils will draw on and extend their knowledge and apply their production skills in a drama performance. The Unit will focus on the process and product of learning. The performance will be sufficiently open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice.

Assessment

To gain the award of the Course, the candidate must achieve the 3 component Units of the Course. There is no external assessment. All Units are internally assessed against the requirements shown in the Unit Specification.

They can be assessed on an individual Unit basis or by using other approaches which combine the assessment for more than one Unit.

They will be assessed on a pass/fail basis within centres. SQA will provide rigorous external quality assurance, including external verification, to ensure assessment judgements are consistent and meet national standards.

The assessment of the Units in this Course will be as follows:

Drama Skills

In this Unit, learners will provide evidence to demonstrate knowledge of drama skills when they create drama. Learners will use drama skills when they create and present drama. Learners will reflect on their own work and that of other learners.

Production Skills

In this Unit, learners will provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and use production skills. They will use these production skills to enhance drama when presenting. Learners will reflect on their own work and that of other learners.

Added Value Unit - Production

In the National 4 Drama Course, the Added Value Unit will focus on:

Challenge
Application

The learner will draw on, extend and apply the skills they have learned during the Course. This will be assessed through a drama performance. The performance will involve creating and presenting a drama. The performance will be sufficiently open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice.

Homework

Homework is issued regularly. This will be less when pupils are undertaking practical assessments and project work in class. Pupils should expect to set aside at least 25 minutes for each homework exercise.

Most homework will take the form of written exercises to test knowledge and skills and to consolidate all learning, including literacy and numeracy.

There will be other homework tasks that require pupils to research specific topics relating to their work in drama.

Progression

This Course or its Units may provide progression to:

other qualifications in Drama or related areas
further study, employment and/or training

National 5 Drama

Overview

The National 5 Drama course encourages candidates to exercise imagination and creativity. They develop important skills, attitudes and attributes, including creativity and adaptability, learning independently and as part of a group, critical thinking, enthusiasm, and confidence.

The course allows candidates to develop practical skills in creating, presenting and producing drama. It provides scope for personalisation and choice by encouraging candidates to be creative and to express themselves in different ways. Learning through drama helps candidates to appreciate cultural values, identities and ideas.

The aims of the Course are to enable pupils to:

generate and communicate thoughts and ideas when creating drama
develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of social and cultural influences on drama
develop a range of skills in presenting drama
develop knowledge, understanding and the use of a range of production skills when presenting drama
explore form, structure, genre and style

As pupils develop practical skills creating and presenting drama, they will also develop knowledge and understanding of cultural and social influences on drama. Pupils will analyse and evaluate how the use of self-expression, language and movement can develop their ideas for drama. They will develop critical thinking skills as they investigate, develop and apply a range of drama skills.

Course Content

The National 5 Drama course has an integrated approach to learning which develops practical and evaluative skills as well as knowledge and understanding of drama and its influences.

Throughout the course, candidates explore and develop a range of drama skills and approaches to communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience. They develop a range of acting skills in relation to portraying characters.

They learn how to respond to stimuli, including text, and develop knowledge, understanding and practical experience of form, structure, genre and conventions when creating and presenting drama.
Candidates generate ideas for presenting text using production areas. They explore and develop practical skills in a range of production areas. They apply these skills to enhance text when presenting.
Candidates develop knowledge and understanding of social and cultural influences on drama. They learn how to evaluate their own progress and the progress of others.

The Course consists of three Units, including the Added Value Unit.

Drama Skills

In this Unit, learners will explore and develop drama skills and ways of communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience. They will learn how to respond to stimuli. They will also learn how to develop portrayal of character and will develop knowledge of form, structure, genre and style when creating and presenting drama.

Learners will develop knowledge of social and cultural influences on drama. They will also learn how to reflect on their own progress and that of other learners.

Production Skills

Pupils will explore and develop a range of production skills. They will use these skills to enhance drama when presenting. Pupils will use problem-solving skills in order to generate ideas for presenting drama.

Added Value Unit - Production

Pupils will draw on and extend their knowledge and apply their production skills in a drama performance. The Unit will focus on the process and product of learning. The performance will be sufficiently open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice

Assessment

Pupils will be assessed in the following ways:

Performance

The purpose of the performance is to enable candidates to draw on, extend and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding they have learned during the course. The performance assesses the candidate's preparation and performance of a textual extract. The candidate can be assessed in either an acting or a production role.

The performance has 60 marks (60% of the overall course award). The performance has two sections: a performance and the preparation for performance. The weighting of marks across the two sections of the performance is as follows:

50 marks for the performance in either an acting or a production role
10 marks for the preparation for performance

Question Paper

The question paper requires candidates to draw on and apply a sample of all the skills, knowledge and understanding listed for the question paper in the 'Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course assessment' section of this document.

The question paper has 60 marks (scaled to 40% of the overall course award).

The question paper consists of two sections:

Section 1 assesses the candidate's ability to evaluate their own work and the work of others
Section 2 assesses the candidate's ability to respond to stimuli and create their own piece of drama suitable for performance

Candidates are required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of both process and performance. They are expected to use drama terminology throughout.

Homework

Homework is issued regularly. This will be less when pupils are undertaking practical assessments and project work in class. Pupils should expect to set aside at least 25-45 minutes for each homework exercise. Most homework will take the form of written exercises to support knowledge and skills and to consolidate all learning, including literacy and numeracy.

There will be other homework tasks that require pupils to research specific topics relating to their work in drama

Progression

Higher Drama
National Certificate in Acting and Theatre Performance (SCQF level 6)
National Certificate in Technical Theatre (SCQF level 6)
National Progression Award in Acting and Performance (SCQF level 6)
National Progression Award in Technical Theatre in Practice (SCQF level 6)
other qualifications in drama or related areas
further study, employment and/or training

Higher Drama

Overview

Course Content

The Course uses an integrated approach to learning which develops practical skills as well as knowledge and understanding of drama. As learners develop their creating skills, they will also learn how to apply complex drama skills. They will experiment with presenting through portrayal of character and by applying complex production skills.

Through creating and presenting drama, evaluation skills will also be developed as learners evaluate their own skills and progress, and that of other learners. Learners will also consider the cultural values, identities and ideas which influence drama.

Units are statements of standards for assessment and not programmes of learning and teaching. They can be delivered in a number of ways.

The Course consists of two mandatory Units and the Course assessment.

Each of the component Units of the Course is designed to provide progression to the corresponding Unit at Advanced Higher.

Drama Skills (Higher)

In this Unit, learners will apply complex drama skills and develop ways of communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience. They will learn how to respond to stimuli, including text. They will also learn how to portray character in a range of ways and explore form, structure, genre and style when creating and presenting drama.

Learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural influences on drama. They will also learn how to evaluate their own progress and that of other learners.

Drama: Production Skills (Higher)

In this Unit, learners will explore and apply complex production skills. Learners will learn how to respond to stimuli, including text, to communicate ideas for a production. They will develop ideas and production skills within their chosen production roles.

Conditions of award

To gain the award of the Course, the learner must pass all of the Units as well as the Course assessment. The required Units are shown in the Course outline section. Course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the Course award.

Homework

Homework is issued regularly. This will be less when pupils are undertaking practical assessments and project work in class. Pupils should expect to set aside at least 25-60 minutes for each homework exercise. Most homework will take the form of written exercises to support knowledge and skills and to consolidate all learning, including literacy and numeracy. Homework may include practise essay writing, script writing and research of drama text.

There will be other homework tasks that require pupils to research specific topics relating to their work in drama.

Assessment

The Course assessment will consist of two Components, a Question paper and a Performance. The question paper will have two Sections. The performance will have two Sections.

Question Paper (50 marks)

Candidates apply a sample of all the skills, knowledge and understanding listed for the question paper in the 'Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course assessment' section of this document. The question paper has three sections:

Section 1 (20 marks) - theatre production: text in context (extended-response questions)

This section will deal with the analysis of a selected text. Learners will be required to demonstrate knowledge of a text they have studied in terms of content and the social, historical and/or theatrical context, and to show an understanding of how the text could be communicated to an audience through performance. The question paper will pose questions that allow learners to provide an extended response from the perspective of either an actor or director or designer in preparation for an intended production. Learners will be credited on their ability to make use of appropriate quotations.

Section 2 (10 marks) - theatre production: application (structured questions)

Theatre production: Candidates answer structured questions on their understanding and application of two production roles for the selected text they have studied. Candidates respond on the ways in which two of the following production roles could be applied to their selected text:

actor
director
designer

To avoid predictability, two of the three production roles will be sampled each year.

Section 3 (20 marks) - performance analysis (extended-response questions)

This section will take the form of a written analysis of a performance that the learner has seen. This may be a live or, if necessary, a recorded theatrical performance. Performance analysis will consider areas such as:

the genre, theme and social, historical and/or theatrical context of the performance piece
the company performing the play
the performance space
the director's intentions and effectiveness
the acting and development of characters
the design concepts and their effectiveness — set, props, costume, make-up lighting, sound/effects
audience reaction
overall impact

Section 3 allows for responses based on:

live or recorded material
appropriate amateur performances

Notes:

Learners must answer each section using a different text.

The question paper adds value by requiring integration and application of knowledge and skills from across the Units. It allows learners to demonstrate their ability to interpret questions and respond in an informed way.

For sections 1 and 2, candidates must answer on their selected text.

For section 3, candidates must answer on a performance they have seen using a different text from that used in sections 1 and 2.

The question paper has 50 marks out of a total of 110 marks.

This is scaled by SQA to represent 40% of the overall marks for the course assessment.

This question paper is two and a half hours long.

Performance (60 marks)

The performance will have 60 marks (60% of the total mark).

All learners will be required to demonstrate skills by:

responding to themes and issues of the chosen text
developing characters and their relationships within the chosen text
understanding the social, historical and/or theatrical context of their chosen text
using a complex range of acting or production skills
communicating to an audience

The performance has two sections:

Section 1 (10 marks) - Preparation for Performance

Learners will have selected a text to explore in depth from the perspective of either an actor or director or designer. The preparation for performance will include research on the chosen text (texts for actors) and the processes used to reach their acting or directing or design concept for the performance (Section 2).

This section will give learners an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

responding to text(s)
communicating thoughts and ideas
developing ideas for performance through either acting or directing or design skills

Section 2 (50 marks) - Performance

The performance for the actors must take place in front of an appropriate 'live' audience. It is the responsibility of each centre to provide the appropriate audience, ie appropriate in age, textual content and numbers.

Actors: Actors should prepare two contrasting roles from two different texts. 25 marks will be available for each role. Performances must involve interaction with at least one other actor (this need not necessarily be someone from within the same class and could be someone who is not being assessed in this area). Each performance will last approximately 7–10 minutes.

OR

Directors: Directors will conduct a rehearsal with actors from a textual extract of approximately two pages. The rehearsal should last approximately 30 minutes.

OR

Designers: Learners will design a set for their chosen text and choose one other relevant production area. They will demonstrate their design concept for the play (this may be through the production of plans, drawings, designs, plot sheets, mood boards and practical realisation of this.

Advanced Higher Drama

Overview

All Courses provide opportunities for learners to develop breadth, challenge and application, but the focus and balance of the assessment will be appropriate for the subject area.

Course Content

The Course has an integrated approach to learning, with a mix of practical learning and exploration of theatre practice. The Course allows learners to further develop and apply skills in their acting/directing/design roles to make a creative and coherent theatrical statement.

Learners will analyse the work of key theatre practitioners and in doing so will develop their own practical skills. They will explore the ways in which meaning can be communicated to an audience. Reflective skills will also be developed as they evaluate their own performance and that of others. Learners will also consider the social and cultural influences on drama.

Units are statements of standards for assessment and not programmes of learning and teaching. They can be delivered in a number of ways.

Drama Skills (Advanced Higher)
This Unit will focus on learners developing their knowledge of methodologies, theatre practices and texts to progress their devising skills. Their knowledge and skills will be informed by the work of a key theatre practitioner.

They will independently create a devised drama production. This will explore how meaning can be communicated to an audience through practical realisation of their own theatrical concepts. Learners will also evaluate the effectiveness of their concepts.

Drama: Production Skills (Advanced Higher)
In this Unit, learners will focus on a study of a key theatre practitioner, and explore in depth the influences on and the theory and practice of their chosen practitioner. They will explore and analyse key productions that reflect their acting or directing or design methodologies through both research and practical experimentation. They will take on the role of the actor or director or designer in the exploration of a textual extract.

Conditions of award

Homework

Assessment

The Course assessment will consist either of acting, directing or design.

A performance, which will be supported by a 'preparation for performance'.
A project–dissertation.
An Assignment

Performance

Option A — Acting

Candidates will be required to perform two contrasting acting roles, one of which will be interactive and one of which will be a monologue.

Each candidate should be involved in an acting contribution of approximately 20 minutes in total, with approximately 17 minutes for the interactive role and two to three minutes for the monologue.

An audience is essential for the acting option. All lines must be learnt. Scripts will not be allowed, and a prompter may be present.

Option B — Directing

Candidates will be required to have prepared a substantial extract, for example an act, from their chosen text.

On the day of the performance the visiting assessor will select approximately three pages for the candidate to direct. Each candidate must be involved in a total time of 40 minutes of directing.

It is the responsibility of the teacher/lecturer to provide suitable actors for the candidate.

Option C — Design

Candidates will be required to produce a set design for a play, which must allow for one significant set change.

They will be required to research the background of their play in terms of its social and theatrical context.

The results of this investigation, together with acquired knowledge and understanding of the themes, issues and characters in the play, should be used to inform performance concepts related to the design of the set and two other areas of design for the play.

Candidates will prepare for and produce a scale model set for the play.

The two other areas of design will be chosen from lighting, sound, multimedia, costume, make-up and hair and props.

Project - Dissertation

The project will have 40 marks (40% of the total mark).

The candidate will be required to demonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of a relevant performance issue. The candidate will select an area which should allow analysis of performance theories and practice. It will be informed by the work of a current and/or historical theatre practitioner and/or company.

The project will take the form of a dissertation of between 2,500 and 3,000 words.

Assignment

The assignment has 20 marks which makes up 20% of the course assessment.

The assignment has two stages:

¨ research

¨ production of evidence

Candidates analyse a professional theatrical production and the work of at least one theatre practitioner (actor, director, and/or designer) involved in the production, in an extended response. The analysis could be of a live performance, a live-streamed performance, a recorded ‘live’ theatrical performance or a historical performance. The performance must be a play: it must not be a musical, pantomime, ballet or opera.

‘What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out’ Alfred Hitchcock

Progression

Drama at advanced higher level provides candidates with an introduction to the type of work and learning a student might encounter studying drama at university degree level.
The aims of the Course are to enable learners to:

develop autonomy and independent thinking skills
develop skills in performing within their chosen area of acting, directing or design
develop individual creativity when applying skills in problem solving, analysis and evaluation
analyse current theatrical performance
develop analytical skills in the interpretation of texts
develop knowledge and understanding of theatre practice and key practitioners
develop knowledge and understanding of social and cultural influences on drama

This Course would provide opportunities for progression to a variety of other qualifications in other related fields, including Degree/HNCs/HNDs in Drama, Acting and Performance, Musical Theatre, and the HNC in Technical Theatre.

Pathways in Drama

A qualification in Drama is of use to more than just the aspiring actor.

For those keen to pursue a career on stage or screen, we offer a wide variety of opportunities to enhance their experience within performance, direction and design and to develop their theoretical knowledge. The theatre is a very competitive industry, and it is very important that you have an understanding of the basics. Depending on your specialism, you could undertake a variety of jobs in the performing arts including:

Acting
• Stage Management
• Direction
• Arts Administration
• Education
• Drama Therapy
• Broadcasting
• Marketing

But it’s not just about the theatre! Drama will give you skills that are recognised and used in a wide range of careers. Skills such as Creative Thinking, Critical Evaluation, Literacy, Negotiation, Leadership, Planning, Presentation, Research, Teamwork, Communication

Some careers that have viewed Drama as an important skill in the past for interviews at both university and in the working world are:
• Law
• Medicine
• Social Work
• Community Work
• Teaching (Primary & Secondary)
• Social Sciences
• Childcare
• Journalism
• Arts Therapy
• Psychology

‘We must all do theatre, to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become’ Augusta Boal