Theatre Studies
WELCOME
Your chance to change your life.
At A Level you explore theatre holistically, that is through practice and writing, through personal investment and personal growth, through research and discovery.
A Level students go on to a huge range of courses including Medicine, Archaeology, Business, Law, TV, Fashion, Nursing and of course the theatre. These have been at all the top universities including Cambridge, as well as professional theatre schools such as RADA and ROSE BRUFORD.
Its skills truly span all subjects and make you a stronger, more capable person.
To get ready, take a look at the sites below.
Let's start with the Socialist playwright Edward Bond. His play SAVED was banned immediately on performance in the 1960s and is rarely performed even today. It is violent, nasty, brutish and utterly wonderful. It's also one of the texts you can choose to study.
Here he is.
Next, one of the very greatest of 20th century playwrights. TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.
Gay, outrageous and a genius, if you have never seen A Streetcar Named Desire with Marlon Brando, go do it! It appeared in the Eng Lit spec last year.
In this excellent biography you get an overview of his life.
Follow it with the 1956 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which is another optional set text at A Level.
His dialogue is witty and brilliant; his female characters convincing; his thearicality stunning.
One more to tempt you.
There are many versions of this play on YourTube. Just type in MACHINAL by Sophie Treadwell and they will spring up. This an EXPRESSIONIST play from the 1920s (more about that below) which explores a true murder case.
It opens itself to all sorts of physical interpretations theatrically and is a great play. Below is a quick summary of it, followed by a snap view of Expressionism by the excellent Crash Course in Theatre.
You will make the final choice of play with your teacher: either Mr Lea or Mrs Cunningham. But at least you can offer preferences!
Finally, to complete your whistle-stop tour of A Level, here is a taste of a play which you will certainly be studying. This is adapted from the novel THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF The DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME.
Remember, if you have any questions just contact Mrs Cunningham cunninghame@pocklingtonschool.com .
Enjoy the experiences ahead!