Drama
Drama is one of the oldest art forms and part of our everyday life. It entertains, informs, communicates and challenges. Students of drama work independently or collaboratively to create original drama or interpret the works of others. Through drama, human experience is shared. Students develop personal skills, knowledge and understandings that can be transferred to a range of careers and situations.
In Year 8, Drama students will be given opportunities to plan, refine and present drama to peers by safely using processes, techniques and conventions of drama. In this course students will focus on exploring the use of movement and voice to develop a range of characters, create and perform characters in a range of roles and build and perform plays through improvisation and scripted excerpts.
In Year 9, Drama students will be given opportunities to refine their knowledge and skills to present drama as an event, by safely using processes, techniques and conventions of drama.
DEVISED DRAMA AND COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE – Semester One
Students will study the theatre style of Commedia dell’Arte, understanding the use of stock characters, the character relationships, and themes of this style of theatre. Students will study and rehearse the voice and movement techniques appropriate for Commedia work and will then work in groups to produce devised and scripted drama performances to be performed at a live performance event. Students will reflect and respond to their practical work by utilising scaffolded frameworks and using drama terminology and language.
IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS AND MELODARAM – Semester Two
In this course students are encouraged to work with the bare bones of theatre. Students are required to improvise performances, extending ideas into full length presentations. They will explore a range of comic forms of drama and perform in a scripted melodrama. Students will gain the experience of performing in a live theatre event by participating in the semesterly Dance/Drama night. Students will reflect and respond to their practical work by utilising scaffolded frameworks and using drama terminology and language.
COLLABORATIVE THEATRE – Semester One
In this course the study of theatre forms allows students to work with formal theatre structures. Students explore the trends and developments of theatre in a range of periods and styles. The end goal of the course is the presentation of a traditional theatre performance.
THEATRE FORMS – Semester Two
In this course students explore the methods used to devise original theatre in a collaborative context. This requires students to take on roles as performers and in the production team. The students work with both scripted and devised texts, selecting the material with which they want to work.
DRAMA GENERAL – Units 1 and 2
The Drama General course focuses on drama in practice and aesthetic understandings as students integrate their knowledge and skills. They engage in drama processes such as improvisation, play building, text interpretation, playwriting, and dramaturgy. This allows them to create original drama and interpret a range of texts written or devised by others. Students’ work in this course also includes production and design aspects involving scenography, costumes, sound and lighting. Unit 1 focuses on dramatic storytelling. Unit 2 focuses on drama performance events.
DRAMA GENERAL – Units 3 and 4
The Drama General course focuses on drama in practice and aesthetic understanding as students integrate their knowledge and skills. They engage in drama processes such as improvisation, play building, text interpretation, playwriting, and dramaturgy. Students explore the theoretical approaches of drama practitioners like Stanislavski and Brecht. Students’ work in this course includes production and design aspects involving directing, scenography, costumes, props, promotional materials, and sound and lighting. Unit 3 focuses on representational, realist drama, whilst Unit 4 focuses on presentational, non-realist drama.
