Drama
“We all must do Drama to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become”
Augusto Boal – Brazilian Theatre Director and Human Rights Activist
Year 8 Curriculum Content
Theme |
Content |
Assessment |
1a Ancient Greek Theatre- The Chorus (7 weeks) |
Knowledge of key drama terms such as chorus, canon, echo, unison, and the key plot structure of Ancient Greek Theatre. Understanding of how to apply key choral techniques to a performance. Skills: teamwork, vocality, physicality, ensemble, |
Men of Thebes Assessment. Groups of 5 or 6. Choreograph and learn the final Choral Ode for the play. 2 Minutes |
1b Ancient Greek Theatre- Oedipus Rex (5 weeks)
|
Knowledge of how to create and present a classical tragic theatre piece using mask Understanding the rules of working with and performing in a mask Skills: teamwork, script writing, devising, vocality, physicality, ensemble, improvisation, mask making |
Oedipus Assessment Groups 5 or 6 Performance with Mask and Costume 5 minutes long Max |
2a Medieval Morality Mummers Plays (2 weeks) |
Knowledge of the development of early English Theatre and specifically Christmas entertainment. Understanding the importance of characterisation, engagement and storytelling. Skills: vocality, physicality, ensemble, improvisation |
No formal assessment for this short scheme of work for Christmas |
2b Medieval Morality Plays (6 weeks) |
Knowledge of the key role of morality in storytelling and creating drama. Understanding the key elements of morality plays such as a moral dilemma and punchline. Skills: vocality, physicality, comedic improvisation |
A group of 3-4 devised Morality Play 5 minutes long Max |
3a Introduction to Shakespeare (6 weeks) |
Knowledge of how to interpret a Shakespearean text and bring to life using sound and lighting Understanding the importance of a central metaphor, interpretation and context. Skills: teamwork, script writing, devising, vocality, physicality, improvisation |
Two assessments in this theme A 2-minute group performance of opening scene of The Tempest And a performance a Shakespeare monologue of no more than 14 lines lasting 1 minute approx. |
3b Shakespeare Pyramus and Thisbe (5 weeks) |
Knowledge of how to create a comedic scene in style of a play that goes wrong Understanding the importance of characterisation and use of comic mistakes. Skills: vocality, physicality, improvisation, script writing, costume and mask making |
Group performance of Pyramus and Thisbe: the play that goes wrong. 5 minutes long Max |
4 Commedia Dell Arte Physical Comedy (6 weeks) |
Knowledge of how to create stock characters using physicality and character centres Understanding the influence of Commedia on contemporary comic theatre Skills: vocality, physicality, improvisation, comedic improvisation |
No formal assessment for this scheme of work. Students to complete a Drama self-evaluation at the end of Year 8. |