A Level Theatre Studies 2011-12
Theatre Studies at
Cronton Sixth Form College is a hugely fulfilling experience, enabling students to fully appreciate the professional set up of theatre and drama in its many forms. The course has had a consistent pass rate of 100% since 2004 and has been widely recognised for its strength and diversity within the sixth form’s overall curriculum offer.
Throughout its successful history at Cronton Sixth Form College, Theatre Studies has provided first class production throughout the community and beyond. As well as performing at schools within the borough the subject has forged links with universities and professional companies that have allowed the subject to develop a respected standing in its area - most notably as part of the Higher Education liaison programme with Dr John Freeman of Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
All students pictured are from the academic year 2010-11.
Other international connections have previously taken place in Liege and Transylvania with the department being represented at international theatre festivals in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Installation is a particular specialism within the department and overall use of space is utlised to the maximum. Practitioners such as Edward Gordon Craig and Steven Berkoff are studied with rigour alongside diverse and
highly acclaimed student-written productions. Workshops and minigifted and talented performance sessions with our production team have resulted in a high level of exposure to local schools and these have resulted in excellent links locally. The department thrives on challenge and change and for this reason we are further developing our curriculum offer by joining the WJEC Examination Board, which will enable us to focus more on the Theatre Company expereience our students appreciate most, whilst maintaining the rigerous theoretical content of Theatre Studies. Our Centre of Excellence also provides exceptional extracurricular opportunities alongside Theatre Studies. These are included at the back of this booklet.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THIS COURSE? • •
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When embarking upon this A Level you will begin with a two induction period which will take you through the history of theatre from the Druids right through to the 21st Century. Following this you will begin to look at the work of Steven Berkoff and the styles which he adapted to suit his physical performances. Throughout this study we will be looking at a variety of other works including your main text for the autumn term, The Caretaker, by Harold Pinter. We will then begin to put together a performance of the above text alongside the practitioner values of Berkoff. This will look at your overall understanding of Berkoff’s theories and Pinter’s underlying subtext. We will then look at the practitioner values of Constantin Stanislavski. This will enable us to put together a new performance interpretation of The Caretaker and once again we will prepare for an overall performance of the text. Both performances will be staged on 8th December 2011 in front of a live audience.
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After Christmas you will begin to prepare for two further live performances and you will start to work more as a production company. These workshops and lectures will also prepare you for your two hour written examination that takes place in June 2012. The texts to be studied and performed are Wycherley’s The Country Wife and Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills. Along the way we will be looking at the vast influences on these writers and the historical context of what they wrote about - enabling us to form clear and justified judgements when creating character and performance. We will complete the year with one of out many visits to the theatre from which you will create your review of this particular performance.
TRIPS AND VISITS As part of our ongoing development we ask that all our students attend the maximum amount of theatre trips organised by Cronton Sixth Form College. Trips in the past have taken us to Scotland, Birmingham and Bath but we try as hard as we can to get the vast majority of our trips in Liverpool and Manchester. London, however, is a bi-annual trip and this is looked upon as a time for our students to flourish in their review writing. The residential trip takes place at the end of each year but is preceded by a day trip in the autumn term to see Lloyd Webber’s timeless spectacle, The Phantom of the Opera.
An early residential is being organised this year to see Boubil and Schonberg’s Les Miserables ahead of our planned trip to New York in the Spring term. Our close association with The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has enabled us to take part in after show workshops with cast members and speak to them directly about performance styles and techniques. Prior to each trip a preparation session is given including a study pack with which to appreciate the performance that little bit more effectively. As with all material, these are uploaded onto our intranet system and can be
downloaded from home. Whilst many of our trips are directly linked to syllabus, you will also be exposed to theatre of all types. From the musical to physical theatre, Shakespeare to street theatre, students will be expected to absorb all elements of performance and analyse its importance in the 21st Century. Most recently, students travelled to Stratford upon Avon to see a Skyped version of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest live from Broadway, New York. Stratford upon Avon is also a regular destination for our students and we try to at least once during
your time at Cronton Sixth Form College. Further information can be obtained from the following sites: www.cronton.ac.uk Facebook: CSFC Performing Arts Google: A Level Performance Matters Why not join us on FACEBOOK?
WHY NOT JOIN OUR EXPANDING THEATRE COMPANY? WHETHER AS PART OF CAST OR CREW YOUR EXPERIENCE WITHIN OUR LARGE SCALE PRODUCTIONS WILL BE SECOND TO NONE.