Drama

“We must all do theatre – to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become”

Augusto Boal

Year 7

Autumn Term 1Autumn Term 2Spring Half Term 3Spring Half Term 4Summer Term 5Summer Term 6
Curriculum KnowledgeIntroduction to Drama

Importance of teamwork

Improvisation and creative thinking  

Poem 4 o’clock Friday – based on themes of bullying
Pantomime

History of pantomime

Pantomime key elements 

Introduction to script extracts 

Creating their own pantomime 

Costume design 

Self and peer evaluation
Movement

 Introduction to Physical Theatre Physical Theatre basic key skills Importance of body language Creation of a whole class ensemble performance Jacques Lecoq 7 levels of tension Importance of non-verbal communication
What If?

 Importance of vocal and physical skills Body as prop and sound effects Persuasive voice Creating own telesales script, slogan and tv advert Breaking 4th wall Script writing Self and peer evaluation
Script – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

 Introduction to script conventions Stage directions Costume and set design Characterisation Character relationships Playwrights’ intentions Stage positioning
Devising – Evacuees 

What is a stimulus What is devising Responding to different stimuli Writing in role Characterisation Storytelling through sound Verbatim theatreSelf and peer evaluation
Subject SkillsFreeze Frames
Thought Tracks
Narration
Angel and devil technique
Basic vocal and physical skillsEntrance and exitsImprovisation
Choral speaking
Multi-role
Breaking 4th wall
Narration
Exaggerated voice and movement
Moving in unison
Choral speaking
Neutral mask
Body as prop
Proxemics and levels
Body language
7 levels of tension
Non-verbal communication
Physical Theatre
improvisation
creativity
vocal skills
physical skills
body as prop
exaggeration
transitions
choral speaking
creative thinking
Narrating
forum theatre
monologue
proxemics and levels
freeze frame
thought trackhot seating
Spontaneous improvisation
Research
Devising and performing
Verbatim theatre
Freeze Frame
Thought track
How can you help your child engage with the content?Talk to them about their learning.Get them to do some improvisation with you e.g. two truths and a lie, hot seating.  Ask them about the history of Pantomime.Talk about different examples of well known pantomimes and watch some clips together.Go and watch a Pantomime if you get the opportunity.Ask them about the 7 levels of tension.Get them to practise their neutral mask.Have a discussion with them about the history of physical theatre.Ask them to tell you about their creative what if scenarios, try to come up with some other examples with them.Watch Charlie and the chocolate factory together. Ask them questions about the different characters – get them to answer in role.Encourage them to read plays outside of the lesson.Help them research evacuees stories.Talk to them about why child evacuees came to Kendal. 
Curriculum OpportunitiesSchool musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.

Careers

Drama lessons allow students to develop a variety of transferable skills which will lead them in a variety of career paths both in and out of the creative industries e.g. performer, director, playwright, lighting designer, sound designer, set designer, costume designer, stage manager, advertising and marketing, teacher, lawyer, drama therapist, arts administrator.

Year 8

Autumn Term 1Autumn Term 2Spring Half Term 3Spring Half Term 4Summer Term 5Summer Term 6
Curriculum contentMime 

Commedia dell’arte History of mime Modern mime examples Melodrama Fixed point Slapstick Stock characters placards Non-verbal communication Silent movies Music as a stimulus Self and peer evaluation
Voice 

Creation of whole class soundscape Importance of vocal warm ups script work – Blood Brothers and Our Day Out extracts Poem – Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori Combining voice with tableaux Monologues
Characterisation 

Creating characters based off:someone they know a prop character description scripted extract Character development Explorative strategies Self and peer evaluation
Physical Theatre

Creation of soundscapes Combining sound and physical theatre Storytelling through movement Body as prop Story of Darkwood Manor as a stimulus Use of music to create atmosphere
Script – Our Day Out 

character relationships Script conventions Stage positioning Monologue and script writing Social, historical and cultural context of play Playwright intentions Self and peer evaluation
Devising – Social Media and technology

 Creation of a group performance based on 3 stimuli Structuring performances Character development Key themes and messages Designing their own performance advertisement
Key Skills    exaggerated movement and expressions slapstick non-verbal communicationTone Pitch Pace Pause Accent Emphasis Projection Choral speaking Soundscape TableauxVoice – tone, pitch, pace, pause, accent, emphasis, projection Physical skills – facial expressions, gestures, body language, levels, posture, stance Explorative Strategies  Body as prop Levels Transitions Mirroring Balance Narration Trust creative thinking  Dynamics Proxemics Hot seating Monologues Tableaux Vocal and physical skills Stage positioning Costume design Improvisation Research Explorative strategies Hot seating Freeze Frames Flashbacks Cross-cutting Climax Repetition Vocal and physical skills
How can you engage with your child?Watch clips of silent movies and mime artists e.g. Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Mr Bean Ask them about the history of mime, where did it come from?   Ask them about key voice terminology. Be an audience member, ask them to practise their monologues.Try asking them questions about the characters they are playing, see if they can answer in role.Watch examples of Physical Theatre with them. Ask them to tell you about the themes of the play. Discuss what life might have been like for children in 1970’s Liverpool compared to now. Encourage them to read plays outside of the lesson.Have a discussion about the impact of technology and social media Ask them to promote their performance to you.
Curriculum Opportunities School musical 
Drama club 
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
School musical
Drama club
Dance club 
Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.
School musical
Drama club
Dance club
Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.

Career Links

Drama lessons allow students to develop a variety of transferable skills which will lead them in a variety of career paths both in and out of the creative industries e.g. performer, director, playwright, lighting designer, sound designer, set designer, costume designer, stage manager, advertising and marketing, teacher, lawyer, drama therapist, arts administrator.

Year 9

Autumn Term 1Autumn Term 2Spring Half Term 3Spring Half Term 4Summer Term 5Summer Term 6
Curriculum contentScript – Too much punch for Judy

Verbatim theatre

Documentary Play

Playwright intentions

Character motives and development

Key themes and messages

Non-naturalistic techniques

monologue writing  
Theatre style and genre

Musicals – Hairspray and School of Rock 

Melodrama – Commedia Dell’Arte and soap operas

Tragedy – Romeo and Juliet

Physical theatre – Frantic Assembly

Social and historical context 
Introduction to Devising

Theatre practitioner – Konstantin Stanislavski 

Naturalistic Theatre and techniques 

Banksy image as a Stimulus 

Characterisation    
Devising

Theatre Practitioner Bertolt Brecht

Non-naturalistic techniques

Epic Theatre , Verfremdung
seffekt 

Episodic Structure 

Use of music and poem as a stimulus

Structuring a performance

Analysing and evaluating creating process and group performance.
Theatre Production

Introduction to design elements and terminology 

Stage Positions and Stage Types 

Theatre roles and responsibilities 

Group production meeting 
Theatre Review

Watch a recorded piece of live theatre

Exploration of design elements

Characterisation

Themes and messages

Exploring script work
Key Skills Explorative strategies

Choral speaking

Counterpoint duologue

Marking the moment

Flashback

Breaking 4th wall
Chair duets

Script work

Characterisation

Stage combat

Exaggerated characterisation

Structure

Self and peer evaluation  
Emotion memory and method acting 

Magic if, given circumstance and subtext 

Hot Seating

Creating and developing characters and scenes
Non-naturalistic techniques

Marking the moment

Creating and developing characters and scenes
Structuring performances

Self and peer evaluation
Sound Design 

Costume Design 

Lighting Design 

Set Design 

Directing 
Analysing and evaluating theatre 

Design elements and terminology

Performance skills 

Self and peer evaluation 
How can you engage with your child?Be an audience member – ask them to practise their monologue. 

Encourage them to read plays outside of the lesson.    
Watch musical clips with them. 

Have a discussion about Shakespeare and his plays. 

Listen to different pieces of music as inspiration for physical theatre. 

Talk about your favourite musicals and what the main themes and messages are.
Find out examples of method actors. 

Ask them to tell you about Stanislavski and his techniques.

Look up examples of Banksy’s work and discuss your different interpretations.
Ask them to tell you about Brecht and his techniques.

Listen to different types of instrumental music and discuss the impact it could create in a performance.  
When watching programmes, films and shows have a discussion about how music and sound effects are used or the impact of set and lighting, what costumes say about a character.Watch a piece of live or recorded theatre with them and discuss the acting and design elements. 

Visit a local theatre if you get the opportunity.
Curriculum OpportunitiesSchool musical 

Drama club 

Dance club
School musical 

Drama club 

Dance club
School musical 

Drama club 

Dance club
School musical

Drama club

Dance club
School musical

Drama club

Dance club

Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.
School musical

Drama club

Dance club

Performance opportunities including the CAPA evening.

Career Links

Drama lessons allow students to develop a variety of transferable skills which will lead them in a variety of career paths both in and out of the creative industries e.g. performer, director, playwright, lighting designer, sound designer, set designer, costume designer, stage manager, advertising and marketing, teacher, lawyer, drama therapist, arts administrator.