Year 9 GCSE Drama students are currently working towards a devised performance that they are creating based on The Island by Armin Greder. They are exploring approaches to devising used by different practitioners including Frantic Assembly, Bertolt Brecht and Steve Berkoff.

Year 10 GCSE Drama students are currently working towards a devised performance that is worth 40% of their final GCSE grade. Students work collaboratively in a group as a designer or performer to create a performance based on a stimulus of their own choosing. Topics chosen this year range from the story of Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth, What makes a healthy relationship and women’s rights. Students will be performing in the Spring Term.

Year 10 & Year 12 Theatre Visit Noughts and Crosses

Letters have been issued for the theatre visit to see Pilot Theatre’s matinee performance of ‘Noughts and Crosses’ at The Belgrade Theatre on Thursday 26 January 2023. This trip will prepare students for their GCSE and A-Level Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice examination which is worth 40% of their final grade; consequently we strongly advise that they attend.

The coach will depart from NLS at 12.50pm. Students will need to bring a packed lunch with them or purchase their lunch from the canteen at break time. Students entitled to a free school meal can also collect their lunch at break time. We will confirm nearer the time what time we expect to return. Students will be wearing their school uniforms on this trip as it in school time. Students will need to make the necessary arrangements to be collected from school.

Year 11 GCSE Drama students are revising Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice (Written Exam)  - There are two areas of focus.                                  

1. Study of one complete performance text. (The Crucible by Arthur Miller)

2. A live theatre evaluation. (Blood Brothers by Willy Russell)

Section A: The Crucible by Arthur Miller Students will practically explore a set text in order to be able to answer short and extended response questions. These questions will focus on decisions made as a performer, a director and a designer. An extract from the chosen set text will be provided in the exam paper. Students will have access to the text in school but you may wish to purchase a copy of the text to support your son/daughter with their learning beyond the classroom. The edition that the exam board will use in the examination is:

Arthur Miller The Crucible Methuen Student Edition ISBN 978-1-4081-0839-0

Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Drama Revision Guide ISBN 9781292131986

Drama Revision Workbook ISBN 9781292131979

Y12 A-Level Drama & Theatre

Y12 students have started exploring their Component 3 - Theatre makers in practice A Written Exam (2 hours 30 minutes)

Sec A: Live Theatre Evaluation - Evaluation of a piece of live theatre they have seen. Students have already been to see Frantic Assembly’s Othello at the Curve Theatre in Leicester.

Sec B: Set Text exploration of Colder than Here by Laura Wade.

Sec C: Director’s interpretation - Interpretation of a text as a director will be explored in Y13.

 

Enrichment in Drama

This half term students in Y9, Y10, Y11, Y12  have undertaken a Drama Leader Training programme for 6 weeks after school on a Tuesday in preparation for launching the Y7 and Y8 Vibe Drama Clubs after half term. The Drama Leaders also have the opportunity to complete their Bronze or Silver Arts Award. Students work independently on their portfolios with the support of an Arts Award Advisor. Both Mrs Hill and Miss Murphy                                                                   are qualified Arts Award Advisors.

We are also excited to announce that we are now an RSC Associate School and we will be working closely with the RSC on future projects.

Rehearsal Space