Year 11 Drama

Subject Overview

Term 1
Term 1 is focussed on Theatre Aotearoa. Students will read two significant plays from NZ playwrights, Dave Armstrong and Oscar Kightley’s ‘Niu Sila’ and Bruce Mason’s ‘The Pohutukawa Tree’. Students will expand their understanding of the role of drama and theatre in cultural expression and identity. They will work in small groups to select a scene/extract from either play that they will develop for performance. Using the drama techniques of voice, body, movement and space, students will perform a role and show understanding of the intention of the play. Students will develop confidence in performing for an audience.

Term 2
The focus in Term 2 is the class production that will be performed for a live audience at the end of the term. Students will read and analyse the scripted text, audition for roles and be cast in the performance. All Year 11 students will have a production performance role but may also support in backstage roles. Class time will focus on character development, blocking and learning lines to perform role using the drama techniques. There will be at least one weekend rehearsal that is compulsory for all performers. The performance is for the public and includes lighting, costumes, props and set. Students are assessed over the process and on their effective performance skills.

Term 3
The focus in Term 3 is the theatre form ‘Commedia Dell’Arte’. Students will participate in practical workshops to develop their understanding of this style including the historical and social context which shaped this theatre form. Characters from the form will be studied and analysed. Students will each select one of these archetypal roles to design and craft a mask for that can be worn in performance. Students will then devise (create) a short scene in the Commedia Dell’Arte style that they will perform for assessment, wearing their mask creation. In their assessment performance they will show understanding and application of this traditional theatre form.

Term 4
Students prepare for the external examination that requires making insightful connections between drama components in a live drama performance viewed within the calendar year, They will also critically reflect on their own performance throughout the year as part of this preparation. This is a written examination.