Oundle School
Theatre Studies
Head of Department: M. Burlington, BA (Birmingham) MA (CSSD)
Course Specification: AQA
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Specification
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Pupils who undertake Theatre Studies are required to be enthusiastic and self-motivated, capable of organising their own time and the time of others. Throughout the course they will develop a wide range of interests and frequently be required to make connections between subjects. They will be required to take responsibility for the planning of rehearsals, preparation of scripts and liaison with theatre staff on a professional level. Theatre Studies pupils pursue a course which considers a range of different approaches to performance, enabling them to better understand the complexities of the relationship between actor and audience.
The Theatre Studies course looks at all aspects of how a play transfers from the text to the stage, from the point of view of director, actor and designer. Pupils look at a wide range of theatre styles and there is an emphasis on the practitioners of theatre, for example Stanislavski and Brecht. Much of the work will be practically based, though this will be supported through essay writing. It is of paramount importance that each candidate is able to work well in a group as this can affect performance. An important part of the course is the critical analysis of performance, and theatre trips to London and elsewhere will be organised during the two years, the cost of which will be chargeable.