St Edward's A Level Guide 2026

DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES

AQA

A Level Drama and Theatre Studies is a dynamic and creative course that encourages you to think boldly, work collaboratively, and express yourself through performance. You’ll devise original theatre and stage existing texts with your peers, performing in the inspiring spaces at St Edward’s, while also exploring the theory behind how and why we make great theatre. You’ll study influential plays from the 20th and 21st centuries, challenge your thinking, and develop powerful, thought-provoking performances to share with live audiences in our community. Alongside practical work, you’ll immerse yourself in theatrical history and build skills that go far beyond the stage, including teamwork, communication, and problem solving.

The A Level course is structured into three components: 1. Drama and Theatre 2. Creating Original Drama 3. Making Theatre

In the practical elements, you can choose to focus on performance, or specialise in areas such as lighting, sound, set design, costume, puppetry, or directing, depending on your interests and strengths.

COMPONENT

ASSESSMENT

1. Drama and Theatre • Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre • Study of two set plays, one chosen from List A, one chosen from List B – both lists are a selection of plays provided by the exam board • Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers 2. Creating Original Drama (Practical) • Process of creating devised drama • Performance of devised drama (pupils may contribute as performer, designer or director) • Devised piece must be influenced by the work and methodologies of one prescribed practitioner 3. Making Theatre (Practical) • Practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts each taken from a different play • Methodology of a prescribed practitioner must be applied to Extract 3 • Extract 3 is to be performed as a final assessed piece (pupils may contribute as performer, designer or director) • Reflective report analysing and evaluating theatrical interpretation of all three extracts

• Written exam: 3 hr • 80 Marks • 40% of A Level

• Working notebook: 40 marks • Devised performance: 20 marks • 30% of A Level • This component is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA. • Performance of Extract 3: 40 marks • Reflective report: 20 marks • 30% of A Level

A LEVEL COURSE GUIDE

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