Overview of the Course
We will study an assortment of different performance texts representing a range of social, historical and cultural contexts to enhance students’ understanding of theatrical form traditional realism to Broadway theatre of the 1940s/50s, and more innovative work from the the present day.
The course will be divided into six areas: thus taking us on a journey of development from the Belle Époque to the present. The study includes writers such as Ibsen, Priestly; Arthur Miller; tom Stoppard and Carol Churchill.
Through both the texts and online theatre productions we will examine how plays were originally performed, and students will be given the chance to study and respond creatively to their experiences.
Theatre Studies works well as a standalone course, or to compliment students studying through drama workshops.
Aims of the Course
The course has two aims; the first is to study an assortment of different performance texts representing a range of social, historical and cultural contexts to enhance students’ understanding of theatrical form traditional realism to Broadway theatre of the 1940s/50s, to more innovative work from thel the present day.
The second is to explore the plays creatively. We will write a melodrama, design sets and costumes, consider lighting and sound, perform a voice verson of A Christmas Carol, and develop plots, characters and our own radio play by drawing on what we have learnt from the writing we have studied.
Homework Expectations
Students will attend a one-hour webinar, where they will type in the chat box. They will be asked to read manageable sections of the texts of the plays over the course of a few weeks. Through class discussion and homework, they will be given the opportunity to:
Reinterpret an extract from a text to develop and demonstrate their creative abilities.
Understand theatres at work, thinking about sound, set and lighting
Delve into the craft of playmaking, set and costume design and production
Discover elements of the performance
And develop ways of Talking about Theatre: The Critical Audience
How It Supports Your Child's Education
For UK students and others doing UK-style IGCSE exams, this unit will introduce them to many of the main works studied at exam level. These skills are relevant to many IGCSE English Literature exams in the UK, anyone studying Drama, or anyone studying for a higher Arts Award (Bronze upwards). Theatre Studies works well as a standalone course, or to compliment students studying through drama workshops who cannot access GCSE drama but want to apply for further drama studies.
For US students, this course provides one credit for high school English or Fine Arts.
Who Teaches Theatre Studies?
Jenny Wells has a wealth of expertise and academic rigor: with a degree in History of Art and English from the University of York, as well as an MA from the Open University, she possesses a deep understanding of interdisciplinary studies and visual culture. Drawing from over fourteen years of teaching experience at an independent Oxford sixth form college, Jenny has instructed students in History of Art, Film Studies and English GCSE and A Levels, and has served as an A level examiner for History of Art. Her dedication extends to supporting students with specific learning needs, reflecting her commitment to inclusive education. Having been a homeschooling parent herself, Jenny understands the importance of fostering creativity and critical thinking skills as part of a holistic approach to educating. See all courses taught by Jenny