Year 8 Drama

Term 

What are we learning 

1 

Commedia

Students will gain knowledge about the use of Masks within theatre. Students will learn about different types of masks and how to use vocal, physical and gestural techniques to show their characters and emotions as well as the story. They will also learn the four stock characters of Commedia and they will work independently and as a group to perform a piece of theatre using their choice of mask. 

2 

Slapstick

Students will explore and learn about the genre of Slapstick and of the key elements that make this style of performance. They will understand the importance of mime, timing through learning some stage combat, status and stereotypes and use them to perform their own piece of drama

3 

Teechers

In this term students we will be acting whilst using a script as a starting point. Teechers by John Godber is a comedy play that involves only 3 actors. It is a play within a play about students leaving school.   

Students will continually build and develop on performance skills, as well as looking at how to stay in role and not break character whilst performing in a comedy show. Students will continue to develop dramatic skills such as Narration, Aside, Split Stage and Mult rolling.

4 

Tension and Status

Students will explore the theme of tension and Status skill in Term 4. They will use rhythm, scripts, unison and cliff hangers to explore, rehearse and create performance with this theme at their core. They will use the work of Shakespeare and will perform in small and large groups

5 

Craig And Bentley

Students will be exposed to some difficult social situations whilst studying this true story about Christopher Craig and Derek Bentley. They will explore reactions, perspectives and prejudices using a range of different drama techniques. They will be focusing on how they are perceived to others and how they can alter this perception using body language and facial expressions. Students create a piece of theatre based around a true story using interpretation, stimulus, drama techniques and research.  

6 

Drama Festival

Using all the skills studied in previous units, students will be given a stimulus to create drama from and will be going up against all other Yr 8 classes, as well as all of Yr 7 and Yr 9.  

They will have several devising workshops and will then be given an opportunity to create their own interpretation of a stimulus.  This unit will be an introduction to students who wish to take GCSE Drama at Swindon Academy. Students’ knowledge and understanding of DEVISING drama will be introduced and this will enhance their practical performance skills. 

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