The study of Drama introduces students to theories and processes for artistic development, it allows them to develop skills as creative, imaginative and critical thinkers.
At Years 9 and 10, the Drama program provides a transition through to the VCE requirements for Theatre Studies and Drama. Areas of study may include: Performance Styles, Production Areas, Theatre Making and Production Presentation.
In this topic the students will explore the rules of improvisation culminating in a Theatre Sports competition. The focus will be on collaboration, creative input, offering and accepting. The elements of energy, timing and conflict will also be explored.
In this topic students will explore the performance styles of Comedy and Farce whilst exploring a range of excerpts from a live or recorded theatre production. Lighting effects and soundscapes may be used. Students will finish the topic watching one of the performances of the production.
In this topic the students will devise work based on curriculum being studied by students at JS. They will explore the performance styles of children’s theatre as well as theatre in education. They will use their expressive skills to develop engaging characters and collaborate to create work that enhances the JS study and includes them in their investigation.
In this topic the students will devise work based on stimulus. They will learn the fundamental skills and start scaffolding and understanding terminology connected to senior Drama studies including the conventions of transformation of time, place, character and application of symbol.
In this topic students will explore aspects of musical theatre. They will develop skills around the design components and production areas of musical theatre including poster and promotions and set and costumes. Character analysis will also be studied through online resources. Performance work will be created in groups focusing on the triple threat skills of acting, singing and dancing.
This topic is the culmination of the semester’s work and is held in conjunction with the Year 9 Dance Semester Elective. This topic assesses the students’ ability to apply their learnt skills from across the semester in a ‘live’ performance, sharing an aspect/s of the work they’ve created in the subject. They should also be able to display collaborative and creative skills and reflect and self-evaluate throughout the rehearsal process.
Practical units are assessed with regular feedback, often culminating in a performance task which assesses the process as well as the final product. An end of semester ‘sharing’ performance will be the culmination of the year’s learning and assess both the process and their performance.
Learning Tasks
Four types of learning tasks may be undertaken in each unit of the Drama program:
practical activities and performances
journal and/or folio
evaluative analysis of live productions
analytical exercises and research design projects.
For more detailed information, please click on the link/s below: