Drama

The below units are available for Senior School students interested in studying Drama.

Drama Course Map
Level A
Level B
Level C
Level D

Level A

ARA30: On Stage

In this Unit you will experiment with mime, clowning and Melodrama to create performances. You will understand basic stagecraft and develop your physical, vocal and character skills. You also develop your directorial skills through observation of performance. You will explore and experiment with ideas for Drama from a variety of sources. Throughout the semester you will develop your creative expression and self confidence by collaborating with others in group performances.

This Unit is offered in Semester One and Two

ARA34: Playmaking

In this Unit you will be creating and performing your own plays in all sorts of styles. You’ll learn about improvisation, puppetry, script writing and acting. You’ll be developing your skills in identifying and connecting drama from the past and today. Inspiration will come from Australian, Asian and many other cultures when planning your playmaking. You will understand and use the tools of drama and discover theatre is about action even more than words!

This unit is offered in Semester Two

Level B

ARB31: Character Acting

In this unit students learn to act for both the stage and the screen and build their self confidence. They develop characters and design sets, costumes and makeup to create their own solo and group performances. Students learn the vocal and physical acting techniques used by famous actors all over the world such as the Stanislavsky ‘Method’. They understand that anyone can perform once they are given the right tools.

This Unit is offered in Semester One

ARB32: Physical Theatre

What goes up must come down! In this Unit you’ll understand why Cirque du Soleil, Frantic Assembly and Legs on the Wall are so popular. This unit explores theatre as a dynamic physical and visual experience because Physical Theatre uses physical movement for storytelling. Physical Theatre has very little dialogue so you experiment with gesture and movement as well as words. You will create your own group performances using costume and makeup for your visual and energetic theatre performances.

This Unit is offered in Semester Two

Level C

ARC31: Express Yourself

In this unit you write and create your own plays. You will create a group performance for Junior school students based on your favourite picture book. You also create a group devised performance based on an issue of interest to you, using journal articles and news events as your source material. You can include song, music and multimedia in your work. You will explore the craft of writing and the many ways of devising non-scripted performances. You’ll develop your self-confidence and find its fun to perform, especially for the Junior students!

This Unit is Offered in Semester One

ARC32: It’s A Classic

Who are we? Theatre tells us. In this Unit you will learn why the theatre of the Ancient Greeks and Shakespeare is so important to us. You will explore the use of masks and understand why they have been used in performances all over the world to to create extraordinary characters. You’ll perform as a masked Greek chorus and play your favourite characters from Shakespeare’s plays. You’ll develop self confidence and understand the importance of creating a connection with your audience.

This Unit is offered in Semester Two

Level D

ARD32: Backstage

This unit is practical in nature and involves a detailed study and practical development of the production roles that support great performances. You’ll develop your skills for the backstage and pre-production work required for a theatre performance. You can be involved in and support the staging of major College events. You’ll also gain an introduction to directing, designing and acting processes. This unit will prepare you for both VCE and IB Theatre which can lead to a variety of professional industry pathways.

This Unit is Offered in Semester One

ARD33: Curtains Up

Take an unpredictable journey and explore who you are, who you could become and what you want to say. In this Unit you can focus on either scripted or group devised performances. You explore the production roles of actor, director and designer, developing an understanding and appreciation of theatre and its influence on and as an expression of modern culture. This unit will prepare you for both VCE and IB Theatre which can lead to a variety of professional industry pathways.

This Unit is offered in Semester Two