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Why study Drama?
Drama gives you the opportunity to use your imagination and express yourself in a creative and practical way. It helps you to develop important skills such as problem solving, communication, planning and creative thinking. It is particularly suitable for those who love being creative, getting their ideas across in a dramatic way and communicating their ideas with others.
The skills that you develop in Drama are useful in many different careers, including: communications and media, theatre, film, TV, radio, costume design, production, writing and teaching.
What do I need to get in?
The school or college will decide on the entry requirements for the course. You would normally have achieved:
What will I study?
Learning how to communicate a story or message is at the heart of drama. Although it is a very practical subject, and involves learning how to perform drama, you will also have to be prepared to work hard at the theory and technical aspects of making and staging drama. You will be expected to write about plays, performances, characters and drama practices.
You will learn how the use of voice, language and movement can develop your ideas for drama. And, you will learn the skills and practices involved in planning, producing and presenting drama. This includes learning about sound, props, lighting, costume, make-up and set design.
You will also find out how actors and writers work, and how their environment and culture affect their work.
The course has two compulsory units:
Drama Skills (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
- learn some basic drama skills and ways of communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience
- learn how to respond to stimuli (things that prompt ideas for drama)
- develop a basic understanding of how to portray character
- learn about form and structure when creating and presenting drama
- develop awareness of social and cultural influences on drama
- reflect on your own progress and that of others.
Note: This unit may be taken with a Scottish Context option, which contributes towards the Scottish Studies Award.
Drama: Production Skills (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
- explore basic production skills and use these skills to present drama
- use problem-solving skills to develop your ideas for presenting drama.
How will I be assessed?
Your work will be assessed by your teacher on an ongoing basis throughout the course. You must pass both units to gain the course qualification.
What can I go on to next?
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Which jobs are related to this subject?
Where can my parents find out more?
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
Nationals in a Nutshell - (National 3)