A Level - Theatre Studies?

[Jambo_UK]

Hi Everyone,

 

Just wondered if someone could explain to me what you do on A Level - Theatre Studies, Can you do this A level just based on the technical side or is this more of a drama and acting subject.

 

If it is what A Level course would you recommend for someone who is going into A-Levels and wants to the technical side of Theatre work.

 

Thanks for the help

 

from

 

Jambo

[Rachel]

Hey,

 

I did 'Drama and Theatre Studies' A' level, and was able to do Technical things instead of acting (I did the Lighting Design for one show and Sound Design for another). It's definitely on the syllabus, but I think it depends on the school/college whether they'll let you do it (if they have the facilities and the staff etc.).

 

As far as A' levels in general go, I think things like Physics are quite good for going into LX - what with all the electricity and formulae and things. I didn't do it because I don't consider myself technically-minded enough.

 

That's just my experience!

[Stu]

Well the one I did in 2000-02 was actually quite good once I discovered I could do Technical stuff instead of Acting... :). In Modules 2, 4 and 5 (from memory) you could opt out from acting and do whatever job within the technicial umbrella that floated your boat. I did Set Design for Module 2 (Midsummer Nights Dream) and Lighting Design for Modules 4 & 5.

 

It's good in respect of that the fact you have to work as a team with the rest of the class (read: all actors) and as your likely to be the only one doing the tech side of things, you have to learn very quickly to be forceful with your points / views, as 9 times out of 10, the turns won't want to listen to you!

 

It was good fun and worth doing - it certainly more helpful than Biology or something (and far easier).

 

The exam board was Edexcel BTW.

 

Stu

[Mummy Lucy]

Hiya,

 

I took A level Theatre Studies from 1999 - 2001, just before everything went arse about face and turned into AS levels.

My school (snooty Grammar School) did not allow you to take any other option than to perform, apart from costume design which apparently was a lot of hard work for not much of a grade. We studied two plays which were Top Girls by Caryl Churchill and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen.

We also worked on two devised projects which you made up yourself, hence the name. That was the only time I was allowed to design lighting and sound, and also the only time I could even touch the equipment.

That's what caused that little spark in my brain which made realise how ##### at acting I was and how much more I enjoyed playing with the "forbidden" lanterns.

 

Do you have a college near you, as I am currently on a BTEC National Diploma (which is equivalent to 4 A levels) in Technical Theatre. However you don't study any other subjects alongside the course, but it is really practical and you are the technicians for the students on acting and performing courses.

 

Might be worth looking into, I really didn't enjoy my A levels at all, but each to their own I suppose.

 

Hope you find something that suits you,

 

Luce

XxX

[Jon]

Jambo,

 

Depending on the exam board there is usually the option, as other have already said, to take up a Lighting Design, Sound Design or Costume/Mask production role instead of and Acting role for the practical project of the course. The choice of whether you can undertake any of these modules is unfortunately in the hands of the institution you study at as there are set criteria about equipment which must be met, and you must also consider with your course leader if, for example the institution has the experience for you to take these modules.

 

A Level theatre studies is however primarily theory based and you study important practitioners and set texts (actually very important and useful to be be able to learn about context), it is actually a very academic subject!

 

When I did the course I found the best thing to do was to sit down with the course tutor, discuss your thoughts and read through the teachers note booklet together as this contains the brief and marking criteria for each of the options a mentioned earlier.

 

Other A Levels I would recommend from a Lighting Design point of view are Media Studies (excellent introduction to textual analysis, denotation, connotation, juxta-position and framing) and Photogprahy (again; framing, juxta-position and composition). If you want to study a specialised course such as Lighting Design at Bruford at degree level afterwards yuo might also want to consider an AS in art as I believe that is about composition too...

 

Good Luck

 

jOn

[Luke Techie]

Jambo,

 

I am currently studying for A Level Theatre Studies, and have my practical exam on Thursday! ;)

 

Most exam boards offer the option of the technical element and some allow you to do both lighting and sound in each show. For the show I have been involved in I have concentrated mainly on the lighting but it is obvious through my portfolio and staff assessments etc I have also done sound. The main thing that the exam board look for is the element of group involvement and when you chose your effects were the group happy with them etc etc etc.

 

As already been said on this post have a chat with the person who is going to be leading the course and see if it is an option open to you, I know some schools/colleges wont offer it as the drama/theatre studies teachers don't feel they can assist technical candidates well enough. My course particularly which I believe is the AQA course is very good. AS Level is a devised piece so you can 'fiddle' around and basically have a free run but then A2 you must work to a script and as I have already said showing lots of group involvement!

 

Another little note I will add is my friend who studied technical for his GCSE got heavily marked down for discussing the kit and how it all works and not actually on why he chose the particular lighting/sound he did!

 

HTH

[smeggie]

hi,

firstly, I want to state that I didn't do theatre studies for a-level. but I worked v.closely with those who did so here's my thruppence'orth.

 

at my college there was a technical option i.e. production LX and design.

I considered doing this but decided against it as it involved (imho) too much writing for my liking and far too much analysis of [I.e, ]effects that were put into a piece for effect inbetween scenes for their own sake.

this destroyed the magic of the effect working as intended in my eyes.

 

I don't mean that I didn't wish to do a post mortem of a show, but that it focussed too much on the little things alone. this could have been just the teaching method I observed being used

 

now onto the pieces, the AQA syllabub provided ample opps to 'mess around' with the kit to figure it out but it focussed more on the deeper design objectives to a show when being written up

[ a friend of mine did the lx design option for his practical] this needs a lot of thought as to why each light is where it is - just saying that it provided a wash does not cut the mustard enough - this resulted in a minimal lx design that did a great job as there were no redundant lamps in the plot.

 

You do need to be forcefull when putting your thoughts across to the actors as they tend to forget about the lights and have been known to request the impossible at the last minute ;) .

 

just for a laugh, I got my design marked[by a teacher that had worked for yonks in the lx business] when I lit my friends piece for AS level improv. it needed a few thousand words on the design and how it fitted into the overall show and all plans and plots annotated to explain the show.

apparently I would have got a B for the writeup, but an A for the show - damn lysdexia! :P

 

if you like writing large amounts of text on shows while learning 'the way it's done' it'll be great for you

please excuse the long post but I think that the more info that you get on this the better - it will be 2 years of your life spent.

 

all the best.

andrew

[Jambo_UK]

Thanks ever1, by the sounds of it the course for me. ;) But it more focused on the science of lighting and not the playing :<

 

I will have 2 ask when I get to school on Monday

 

Thanks again everyone for the help

 

from

 

Jambo

[paulears]

AQA and EDEXCEL both have the possibility of technical elements to theatre studies BUT it's up to the school or college to decide if they offer it. The current rules only allow them to if the staff teaching it have appropriate skills and the technical facilities to make it happen. That said, neither of them ever check up on what qualifications the teachers have for what they teach. At my place I suddenly got told to teach a particular unit because I was the only one with a maths qualification. I've been examining A levels since 1997, ending up as principal examiner in music technology and its very clear that some teachers have no skills whatsoever. Many who go on training courses do so because they are (typically) IT competent and used to play the flute or violin at school. Add the two things together and you become a music technology teacher - very scary! I once had one school who only had one microphone. Their exam task was to record something in stereo! The teacher didn't realise this was impossible.

 

At my college, we dumped theatre studies because it really didn't give enough depth - loads of small bits, studied on the surface. The production has to be short because 5 hrs a week or so doesn't give much time, and there is little chance to do a proper job, hence the allowance of reduced, edited and shortened works.

 

For what it's worth, if you want deep knowledge and practical - do a National Diploma, if you want practical and broad, an AVCE or if you want general knowledge only with/without practical, A levels.

[Jambo_UK]

Ask my teacher and he said I can do technical for some modules of the course but I will need to act for the first part of the course which I do not mind doing,

 

Thanks for the help everyone,

 

BTW the course is EDEXCEL, so if anyone has any advice, or course work answer I would not mind a copy, ** laughs out loud ** Only Kiddings

 

Thanks again everyone