Drama

 

Drama is the expression and exploration of personal, cultural and social worlds through role and situation that engages, entertains and challenges. Students create meaning as drama makers, performers and audiences as they enjoy and analyse their own and others' stories and points of view. Like all art forms, drama has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, excite the imagination and encourage students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Drama provides students with opportunities to:

 

  • explore their imagination and take risks through storytelling
  • to feel and manage empathy through characters
  • develop problem-solving skills
  • develop intercultural understanding
  • to communicate ideas and information through drama.

 

 

 

"Great theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to fantasize about a world we aspire to."

Willem Dafoe

_mg_5257-enhanced-nr.jpeg

  

Year 7 

 

In Year 7, Drama students will be given an opportunity to plan, develop and present drama to peers by safely using processes, techniques and conventions of drama. Drama will be improvised, or taken from appropriate, published script excerpts (e.g. Australian or world drama), using selected drama forms and styles (Note: students will have an opportunity to present a scripted drama and improvisation performance at least once over Year 7 and Year 8). Student work in devised and/or scripted drama is the focus of informal reflective processes using generalised drama terminology and language.

Drama forms and styles for Year 7: restoration comedy, circus, Kathakali, medieval theatre or ritual theatre.

 

Year 8

 

In Year 8, Drama students will be given opportunities to plan, refine and present drama to peers by safely using processes, techniques, and conventions of drama. Drama will be based on extended improvisations, or taken from appropriate, published script excerpts, using selected drama forms and styles. Student work in devised and/or scripted drama is the focus of informal reflective processes using more detailed drama terminology.

Drama forms and styles for Year 8: readers theatre, children's theatre, naturalism, or realism.

 

Year 9 

 

In Year 9 students can select from the following options:

 


Acting 101

Now it's time for proper acting: You know, the type that makes money. We're going to use acting techniques to dig deeper into characters, using the same rehearsal processes as Heath Ledger, Robert De Niro and Margot Robbie. It will involve close study of films (yes, we'll be watching films!) and rehearsing film scripts to present believable, realistic characters. If you want to go to Drama school and make money, Step One is Acting 101.

 


High School Musical

Calling everyone who wants to deliver the high kicks, the crazy eyes, the jazz hands and the greatest lip-synchs battles ever held. This course delivers all the fun of musical theatre without the requirement to be a triple threat – you need absolutely no dancing or singing experience but a willingness to come and have fun, but be sure to "Get'cha Head in the Game!" Singing is not required.

 

Year 10

 

There are two elective courses available for students interested in studying Year 10 Drama.

 


Drama Production and Performance

Perfect for anyone thinking of enrolling in the Certificate II Creative Industries, or as a complementary unit to Radical Theatre for those who are planning on a Year 11/12 Drama pathway. This class is all about getting to know two of the backstage design roles and bring your script to life!

 


Radical Theatre

Burn down the system! For the intelligent rebel, Radical Theatre examines how theatre has been used to protest, shock and challenge ideas and society. Entire new ways of presenting plays and acting have been created. We will look at how to act and direct performance in Epic Theatre, Verbatim Theatre, and Theatre of the Absurd. Your knowledge and skills of acting and theatre will be radically extended with Radical Theatre.

 

 

For further information about the Years 7-10 drama curriculum, you can visit the School Curriculum and Standards Authority or our Course Handbook page for electives in Year 9 and 10 .

 

Year 11 & 12

 

Drama is a vibrant and varied art form found in play, storytelling, street theatre, festivals, film, television, interactive games, performance art and theatres. It is one of the oldest art forms and part of our everyday life. Through taking on roles and enacting real and imagined events, performers engage audiences who suspend their disbelief to enter the world of the drama. Drama entertains, informs, communicates, challenges and allows the sharing of human experiences.

 

Students achieve through the key activities of creation, performance and reflection. They explore and communicate ideas and learn particular processes and skills to enable them to work with drama forms, styles, conventions and technologies. They reflect, respond and evaluate drama and become critical, informed audiences, understanding drama in the context of their own society and culture. They draw on a diverse range of drama from other cultures, places and times to enrich their intercultural understanding.

 


Drama (General)

The Drama General course focuses on drama in practice and aesthetic understanding as students integrate their knowledge and skills. They engage in drama processes such as improvisation, play building, text interpretation, playwriting and dramaturgy. This allows them to create original drama and interpret a range of texts written or devised by others by adapting the theoretical approaches of drama practitioners like Stanislavski and Brecht. Students' work in this course includes production and design aspects involving directing, scenography, costumes, props, promotional materials, and sound and lighting. Increasingly, students use new technologies, such as digital sound and multimedia. They present drama to make meaning for a range of audiences and adapt their drama to suit different performance settings. The focus in this course is primarily on ensemble performance and team work.


Drama (ATAR)

The Drama ATAR course focuses on drama in practice as students integrate their knowledge and skills. They use the elements and conventions of drama to develop and present ideas and explore personal and cultural issues. They engage in drama processes, such as improvisation and text interpretation which allow them to create drama and interpret a range of texts written or devised by others. Their work in this course includes production and design aspects, such as sets, costumes, props, sound and lighting. Increasingly, students use technologies, such as digital sound and multimedia. They present drama to a range of audiences and work in different performance settings.

 

For further information about this course, you can visit our handbook page  or the School Curriculum and Standards Authority .

 


Nationally Acredited Certificate Courses

 

Certificate qualifications are a pathway to WACE and employment for all students. Students will develop skills desired by employers and will place them in good stead for employment while embarking upon other studies post Year 12. Students choose which qualifications they undertake in conjunction with their Course Counsellors and their parents. Students will be required to complete the enrolment and induction with the appropriate Registered Training Organisation (RTO) partnering with Mount Lawley Senior High School to deliver the qualifications chosen. Upon successful completion of all units of competencies in the qualifications, students will be issued with the appropriate qualification by the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

 


Certificate II in Creative Industries

CUA20220

  • This is a two year delivery completed over Year 11 and 12.
  • Student enrolment is with the RTO, COSAMP (41549).

 

For further information about this course, you can visit our Course Handbook page .