Macleans College Macleans College

12DRA - Drama - NCEA Level 2

12DRA
Course Description

Teacher in Charge: Miss A. Burnett.

Recommended Prior Learning

In order to qualify for NCEA Level 2 Drama, it is a prerequisite that you have completed and passed MCert Drama at Macleans College, or completed and passed Level 1 NCEA if enrolling from another school.
In order to qualify for NCEA Level 3 Drama, it is a prerequisite that you have completed and passed NCEA Level 2 Drama.
If you want to enrol in Drama Scholarship in Year 13, you must take NCEA Level 3 Drama.


12 Drama - NCEA Level 2

Course Statement:


Drama is an exciting collaborative art form that values and contributes to the unique bicultural and multicultural character of Aotearoa New Zealand. In Drama, learners work together in safe and fun environments to tell stories, express their identity, and take creative risks. Through group work learners discover and create innovative theatre that is dynamic and evolving to express human experience and create imagined worlds. Incredible opportunities are offered through the robust and lively NCEA Drama Course. Students will hone their acting skills and techniques through performing in class productions. Innovative theatre-making skills are explored through Devising Original Theatre. Critical Thinking skills are developed through the study of Plays and Theatre Forms. Drama explores philosophy, society, human behaviour, psychology and self-expression through embodied practise. 

Macleans College Performing Arts Faculty's Drama and Dance Department has three Drama Teachers on staff with years of International and National experience, and training in both Education and Industry. See details of their experience by clicking on the button below.

MEET YOUR TEACHERS

Topics Covered:
  • Scripted Performance and Acting Techniques
  • Devising Original Drama
  • Research, Presentation and Writing Skills
  • Live Performance for an Audience
  • Theatre Form and History
  • Professional Performance Workshops
Student Voice:SKILLS FOR LIFE

Course Overview

Term 1
AS91213: Apply drama techniques in a scripted context | Internally Assessed in Week 9 | Credits: 4

A term of in-depth acting study and techniques development. You will work together in trios or groups to perform a scene chosen from a variety of interesting plays selected by your teacher. These in-depth scene studies will provide the content for you to develop and refine your ability to engage with the essential ingredients of Drama - Voice, Body, Movement and Space. The showcase of these acting scenes will take place on an evening in Week 9 in front of a live audience.

Term 2
AS91218: Perform a substantial acting role in a scripted production | Internally Assessed in Week 9 | Credits: 5

An exciting term to perform in a class production! Your Drama teacher will cast you and direct your class in a production which will be performed for a live audience during the evening in Week 9. We change the plays we perform every year to keep the curriculum fresh and engaging. To achieve this standard you will need to:
 attend rehearsals (in-class)
 learn script lines to meet deadlines
 accept direction willingly
 produce supporting material (research and written analysis)
 cooperate with the group to enable the production to be realised

A substantial acting role involves a role with sufficient depth and length to make a meaningful contribution to the play.

Optional - AS91221: Direct a scene for drama performance | Internally Assessed in Week 9 | Credits: 4
There is an option for students to direct a scene for the class production. This will stretch student leaders who show an interest in Directing live theatre. They will; be mentored by their teacher to research a theatre form, make informed decisions about setting, characters, and blocking. Students will be empowered to make their own directing choices and take ownership of their work.

Term 3
AS91214: Devise and perform a drama to realise an intention | Internally Assessed in Week 9 | Credits: 5
AND
AS91216 : Use complex performance skills associated with a drama or theatre form or period | Internally Assessed in Week 9 | Credits: 4

These two Achievement Standards are assessed together through one dynamic performance that you create collaboratively with a group, and although performed as an ensemble, you will be marked individually.

Devised Theatre is an exciting opportunity to create original Drama where you have creative control.
It is an ongoing cycle that requires active participation in the creative processes by all members of the group, and involves developing and refining your skills in:
 discussion, communication, brainstorming and negotiation
 diplomacy and conflict resolution
 exploration of and experimentation with creativity
 internal and external motivation
 physical application of research

The drama you create will explore ideas or themes by reinterpreting an existing story, telling stories from a specific historical event, or centre around a relevant social justice issue. Your group can choose the topic that resonates the most with you. This original performance is performed in front of a live audience on a stage fit with lighting, costume, multimedia elements, and props. The performance is also accompanied by written research work which you submit to your teacher after you perform.

Your original Devised Theatre performance will be achieved using complex performance skills associated with a Theatre Form. You will explore in-depth knowledge of the Theatre Form and learn how to present work convincingly using performance techniques specific to the Theatre Form you are studying. The chosen Theatre Forms for each year are on rotation to keep our curriculum fresh and interesting, and are chosen based on what you have studied in your previous years of Drama courses at Macleans. This means you will study different Theatre Forms and Plays each year. These Theatre Forms include:
 Red Leap Theatre and Physical Theatre
 Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre
 Antonin Artaud and the Theatre of Cruelty
 Jerzy Grotowski and Poor Theatre
 Stanislavski and Realism
 Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett and Theatre of the Absurd
 Commedia Dell'Arte and Physical Comedy

Term 4
AS91215: Discuss a drama or theatre form or period with reference to a text | Externally Assessed | Credits: 4

This is a written exam which requires you to write about a Theatre Form and Theatre History with reference to a well known written play. Throughout the year you are taught how to write perceptively and to make insightful connections between the features of the Theatre Form and the play you will study.
When we explore Theatre Form (also known as Style or Genre) we look at the historical and political context of that theatrical movement. We learn that art is formed as a reaction to and mirror of events happening in society at the time. We analyse the plays that were written as an artistic expression of societal changes. The themes of the plays we study will touch on Philosophy, Politics, Society, Power Structures, Human Behaviour, Psychology and Social Justice Issues.

Faculties:

Performing Arts


Assessment Information

All Internal Assessments are performed in front of a live audience.
All Internal Assessments have a theory and practical component.
All Internal Assessment are marked internally by three Drama Specialists on staff.
All External Assessments are written under exam conditions and marked externally.

Pathway

13DRA -Drama -NCEA Level 3

Drama teaches ākonga the tools they need to excel across all subject areas and prepares them for future careers by developing learners' confidence, public speaking, critical thinking, problem solving, communication skills, self-expression, diplomacy and motivation. Career pathways include (but are not limited to): Law, Entrepreneurship, Teaching, Creative Arts, Film and Theatre Industries, Politics and Journalism.


Disclaimer

All subjects for 2024 are subject to numbers and staff.