Drama & theatre

Why study Drama and Theatre at Woodhouse College?

You’ll be taught by two highly experienced teachers, who despite having 20+ years teaching experience are fascinated by the latest developments in theatre.

We regularly attend trips to new and exciting plays to inform classroom practice. Over the last year trips have included:  

National Theatre Backstage Tour, ‘Gigi and Dar,’ at the Arcola, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,’ at the Almeida, ‘The Glue,’ at LAMDA, and ‘The Secret Lives of Babba Segi’s wives,’ at the Arcola. 

Having completed both university courses in drama and actor training at drama school, your teachers have an excellent understanding of the opportunities available to you after college and will support with interview and audition preparation.  

Course overview 

In year 12 we use a play text as stimulus for devising; this is currently Girls and Boys by Dennis Kelly. This is combined with exploration of practitioners such as Frantic Assembly, Complicite, and Artaud.   The set texts are Machinal by Sophie Treadwell, with a focus on expressionist style and Woyzeck by Georg Buchner with a focus on the use of Epic theatre. 

Each year we choose exciting and diverse plays for our year 13s to perform, which suit their performance skills and style.

How is the course assessed? 

• 40% written exam
• 40% devising performance and accompanying written portfolio
• 20% performance exam 

What will I do in lessons?

Approaching theatre from the perspective of an actor, designer, director and audience member you will participate in a combination or practical and theoretical work throughout the two years. You’ll work both individually and as part of a group.

What Independent study will be expected?

In addition to written assignments, you will be expected to do independent reading and rehearsing for the A level Drama course. During the devising and performance exam rehearsal periods you will be expected to rehearse for a minimum of 1hr a week with your groups outside of lessons. You will also be expected to work independently on preparing your own monologue.

Exam Board

Edexcel

Link to specification

GCSE entry requirements

• 5 in Mathematics required
• 6 in English Language required
• 6 in English Literature required (if taken at GCSE)
• 6 in Drama required (if taken at GCSE)

NB. Recent experience of performance needed if Drama not studied at GCSE. 

What A Levels go well with this one?

Psychology, Sociology, English Literature, English Language, History, Art, are often chosen in combination with Drama and Theatre. However, it makes a great combination with any subject as it offers such an extensive range of transferrable skills.

What can I do beyond A Levels with this subject? 

Actor training at Drama school. Drama, Film, Media, Creative Writing, Liberal Arts, Law, English Literature, English Language, History, Politics at University. A wide range of practical university courses such production or stage management.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take Drama and Theatre? 

‘Definitely do it! You’ll have the best time ever, improve your performance skills and make amazing friends.’ Student from 2025 cohort

Will it be easy? 

‘It's not as easy as you’d think but it's way more fun than other subjects and it’s the best subject to make close friends in.’  Student from 2025 cohort

Is it worth taking? 

‘Taking drama at Woodhouse inspired me to go to drama school. It developed my skills immensely and pushed me as an actor due to the combination of theoretical and practical work.’  Student from 2024 cohort.