Welcome to Year 13 Drama
 NCEA DRAMA LEVEL 3 2011

Welcome to Level 3 Drama! 
This will be an interesting year as you build on your understanding and skills in Drama.  You will find that there is a choice of individual work at this level, which can be challenging. 

The theory work is also more advanced.  However, with hard work and focus you should all be able to achieve at this level.

 This course aims to:

• Develop your ability to use drama techniques to create character and dramatic meaning
• Develop your ability to use drama elements and conventions to express ideas in a structured performance
• Explore theatre as an important reflection of, and influence on, society
• Explore and practise production and design aspects of theatre
• Develop your ability to use drama language to explore ideas, and to express your opinions and understanding of drama concepts
• Give you the opportunity to watch, appreciate and evaluate a variety of performance

We will study two play texts through the year and these will form the context and basis for all your practical and theoretical work.    They are: The Prophet by Hone Kouka and A Midsummernight’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

In the second half of the year, you will have the opportunity to develop your own learning programme.  You can choose from a range of achievement and unit standards that include acting, set and costume design, external theory examinations, and scholarship.

Please note: If you are considering Scholarship in Drama, you must take the individual option for practical work (not the One Act Play Festival), as this will prepare you for Scholarship.  We will discuss the requirements for Scholarship later in the year.  Please tell me if you are interested in attempting Scholarship Drama.

Resubmission and Attendance

This is a very full programme.  We will have no time for students to resubmit for standards not achieved through the year.  Therefore, it is vital that you do not miss assessments.  If you cannot attend for reasons such as serious illness or family bereavement, we will negotiate with the group for you to do your assessment at an alternative time.  However, this cannot jeopardize the chances of other class members and will only be done in exceptional cases.  If you know you cannot attend an assessment, you must apply for an extension from your teacher in writing and in advance.  Serious illness requires a doctor’s certificate.

Live Theatre Performance

As a part of this course you are required to attend at least three live theatre performances as a member of the audience.  The external exam requires that each student is able to discuss more than one performance they have attended.  The Drama Department will provide you with several opportunities to view live shows through the year.  It is your responsibility to meet the cost of the ticket and the transport.  It is important for you to attend other shows on your own as well.

Stationery and Uniform

• You will need a series of exercise books or art books for your written work – one for each unit of work.  We will discuss the written/visual requirements for each unit.
• For all practical drama classes, suitable clothing must be worn.  This needs to give you freedom of movement and can include PE uniform, shorts, track pants.  For all practical assessments you will need to wear plain black/white/grey clothes suitable for the particular assessment (unless you are in full costume).  Organise this well in advance.

Enjoy your year and work hard!                            

 Ms V Davidson : HOD Drama   2011