Drama
Unit 1
Overview
In this unit students study three or more performance styles from a range of social, historical and cultural contexts. They examine drama traditions of ritual and storytelling to devise performances that go beyond re-creation and/or representation of real life as it is lived.
This unit focuses on creating, presenting and analysing a devised solo and/or ensemble performance that includes real or imagined characters and is based on stimulus material that reflects personal, cultural and/or community experiences and stories. This unit also involves analysis of a student’s own performance work and a work by professional drama performers.
Students apply play-making techniques to shape and give meaning to their performance. They manipulate expressive and performance skills in the creation and presentation of characters, and develop awareness and understanding of how characters are portrayed in a range of performance styles. They document the processes they use as they explore a range of stimulus material, and experiment with production areas, dramatic elements, conventions and performance styles.
VCE Drama Unit 1 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.
Download > VCE Drama Study Design
Unit Prerequisites
N/A
Assessment
- Creating a devised performance
- Presenting a devised performance
- Analysing a devised performance
- Analysing a professional drama performance
Drama
Unit 2
Overview
In this unit students study aspects of Australian identity evident in contemporary drama practice. This may also involve exploring the work of selected drama practitioners and associated performance styles. This unit focuses on the use and documentation of the processes involved in constructing a devised solo or ensemble performance. Students create, present and analyse a performance based on a person, an event, an issue, a place, an artwork, a text and/or an icon from a contemporary or historical Australian context.
In creating the performance, students use stimulus material that allows them to explore an aspect or aspects of Australian identity. They examine selected performance styles and explore the associated conventions. Students further develop their knowledge of the conventions of transformation of character, time and place, the application of symbol, and how these conventions may be manipulated to create meaning in performance and the use of dramatic elements and production areas.
Students analyse their own performance work as well as undertaking an analysis of a performance of an Australian work, where possible, by professional actors. Across this unit, students study performance styles from a range of historical and/or social and/or cultural contexts.
VCE Drama Unit 2 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.
Download > VCE Drama Study Design
Unit Prerequisites
N/A
Assessment
- Using Australia as inspiration
- Presenting a devised performance
- Analysing a devised performance
- Analysing an Australian drama performance
Theatre Studies
Unit 3
Overview
In this unit students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation. Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script. Production roles include actor, director, designer – any one or two of costume, make-up, props, set, lighting, sound.
They use knowledge developed during this process to analyse and evaluate the ways work in production roles can be used to interpret script excerpts previously unstudied. Students develop knowledge and apply elements of theatre composition, and safe and ethical working practices in the theatre.
Students attend a performance and analyse and evaluate the interpretation of the script in the performance.
VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.
Download > VCE Drama Study Design
Unit Prerequisites
N/A
Assessment
- Interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles.
- Outline concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and explain how these could be realised in a theatre production.
- Analyse and evaluate the creative and imaginative interpretation of a written script in production to an audience.
Theatre Studies
Unit 4
Overview
In this unit students study a scene and an associated monologue. They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process. Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.
Students’ work for Areas of Study 1 and 2 is supported through analysis of a performance they attend. Students analyse acting, direction and design and the use of theatre technologies, as appropriate to the production.
VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 is available as an acceleration option, subject to Avila College’s acceleration requirements.
Download > VCE Drama Study Design
Unit Prerequisites
N/A
Assessment
- Describe and justify a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
- Analyse and evaluate acting, direction and design in a production.
- Coursework = 15%
- Monologue Examination = 25%
- Written Examination = 30%