Drama

The overarching goal of Year 9 Drama is to develop confidence and understanding through performance based assessment. Drama provides experiences in which the intellect, emotions, imagination and body are all involved and developed through expression, observation, performance and reflection.

Year 9 Drama is a complete course and not a prerequisite for entry into the Year 10 Drama course or 2 Unit HSC Drama course. However, it is regarded as invaluable preparation for senior Drama.

Areas studied

Ancient Greek Theatre - Where it all began; the birth of character - physical and vocal storytelling with a modern twist.

Monologue Performance - Building the courage of each student to offer and accept ideas, develop their listening, improve their vocal skills and create engaging work using Australian stories as a base for an Individual Performance.

Comedy - From Shakespearean comedy to the characters of Commedia Dell’Arte; workshopping and exploring a range of comedic styles and skills through voice and physicality as well as clowning and physical slapstick.

Film - Creating, writing, filming, directing, starring in and editing their own films! Students work in groups to learn about the art of visual storytelling through film culminating in a Barker Film Festival for students and parents to watch these wonderful stories.

Assessment Structure

Drama

Through a combination of practical and theoretical study Year 10 Drama students develop skills in performance, directing and design, learning how to create engaging theatre by making, performing and appreciating. The Year 10 course helps build a solid foundation for students contemplating Drama for the HSC, for those students wanting to enter careers in the performing arts as well as for those who want to foster and improve their confidence and presentation skills.

Students may study Year 10 Drama without having previously taken it in Year 9. It is not a prerequisite for entry into the 2 Unit HSC Drama course. However, it is regarded as invaluable preparation for senior Drama.

Course Outline:

Music Theatre and Shakespeare: Students learn to deconstruct text in order to perform a convincing scene or song with a partner as well as performing and analysing different theatrical styles. They then study directing and design and learn to conceive and create set, costume, film or poster designs for their own production of a play or musical.

Political Theatre: Students will explore different styles of political theatre including Brecht and Boal in order to devise their own group performance based on Australian political and social issues. The assessment for this is a showcase evening where families and friends are invited to be an audience.

Mockumentary: In groups, students create, script, film, act and edit their own mockumentary style short film. A hilarious and fun filled unit where students develop their story telling and technical film skills.

During Semester 2 some of the Year 10 classes are lucky enough to be part of our Darkinjung/Drama program where we work alongside the Darkinjung students on Drama skills, confidence, Indigenous voices and playbuilding.

Assessment Structure

Drama

Year 11 Drama is a practical and theoretical opportunity for students to build on their theatrical skills including playbuilding, performance, directing and collaboration. Students study a range of styles learning to analyse and interpret text, perform in depth characters confidently and create their own engaging, original and entertaining group performances.

It is not a prerequisite for entry into the 2 Unit HSC Drama course to have taken Year 9 or 10 Drama. However, it is regarded as invaluable preparation for Senior Drama.

Because of the group performance element in Senior Drama, it is essential students are able to demonstrate they can work collaboratively with others. Students who have difficulty working in a team, performing or sharing ideas with others should consider their choice of this subject very carefully.

Content areas studied:

Realism - Students explore the style of Realism, specifically the work of Konstantin Stanislavski and his system for creating truthful and in-depth characters on stage. We study the work of Henrik Ibsen and Ayad Akhtar with students ultimately creating and performing an individual performance and folio of directorial choices.

Non-Realism/Expressionism - Through the practical study of Absurdism, Expressionism and Physical Theatre (Clowning) students develop a deeper understanding of how Non-Realistic theatre can transport an audience into their sub-conscious as well as make them think about world issues.

This unit culminates in a group performance showcase evening where family and friends are invited to attend and see the student’s challenging, thought-provoking and entertaining work.

Assessment Structure