• Drama

Drama

The Vital Importance of Drama

'We must all do Theatre, to find out who we are and who we could become'                                         Augusto Boal - Brazilian Theatre Theorist

'You cannot afford to confine your studies to the classroom. The universe and all of history is your classroom'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Stella Adler - Renowned Acting Teacher

'To date researchers have been unable to identify a comparable activity that develops the cognitive capacity of children to the same extent as arts education does. Engaging with the arts also helps students develop empathic intelligence, which enhances their emotional engagement, commitment and persistence.'                                                                                                                                                                       OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030

Drama Presentation

During the course you will:

  • explore thought-provoking topics whilst developing your practical acting, devising, directing and design skills.
  • use body and voice to create a wide range of different characters, as well as experimenting with different styles/genres of performance.
  • have the opportunity to create your own work as well as looking at plays written by other people.
  • develop a working knowledge of the technical aspects of the theatre including direction, set/costume design and lighting; and develop understanding of how these different aspects, together with acting, can create an effective and meaningful performance.
  • analyse/evaluate your work and be able to write about what you’ve done, how you’ve done it and why you chose to produce your piece in a particular way.
  • explore the roles of performer, creator, director and designer.

Further information:

Visit the IGCSE Drama site to read the current syllabus and find out more. Please note that current Y8 students will be following the 2025-2027 Syllabus 0411. 

If you have any specific questions about IGCSE Drama, please contact Catherine Howe, Head of Senior School Drama: Catherine.Howe@dulwich.org

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I’m not interested in becoming an actor or studying drama at university. Is there any point taking IGCSE Drama?
    • Drama teaches a range of transferable skills. These include the ability to present yourself with confidence, collaborative skills, creativity, time management and self-reflection. It is a practical, creative subject that is suitable for many future pathways.
  • I don’t like performing in public. Is this the right course for me?
    • The practical coursework does involve performance examinations that assess acting skills. However. It is important to note that each task is assessed for both your acting and for your ideas during the creative process. The final coursework pieces are performed in front of an audience. This will consist of peers, your drama teachers who will be assessing the pieces and potentially invited parents and staff. We work hard to make these performances as stress-free as possible. It is our experience that students become sufficiently confident to perform with confidence.
  • Do I have to take part in school productions if I take IGCSE Drama?
    • There is no expectation or requirement that IGCSE Drama students take part in school productions, although doings so can obviously help develop your skills.
  • Does IGCSE Drama require a lot of rehearsal outside school?
    • Students will be required to rehearse outside of lessons. For instance, during lunchtimes and after school, to prepare fully for their performance examinations. Your teachers will adjust the amount of written homework set at such times in order to ensure that you do not become overwhelmed. In addition, there will be at least one compulsory weekend rehearsal for the Group Scripted and Devised Performance examinations; details of which will be given out to students and parents in advance. 

Assessment

Component 1: Written examination; 2 hours 30 minutes (40%)

Candidates are asked to answer questions on two elements:

  • Script: two extracts from different plays set by the exam board.
  • Devised work: either their practical devised coursework, or a piece of comparable quality.

The questions on the examination paper require candidates to have engaged with the material from the perspectives of creator, performer, director and designer. Students answer a range of  questions based on the plays and the devised work they have created. This component is externally assessed.

Component 2: Practical Coursework (60%) 

Candidates submit three pieces of practical work: one individual piece, based on an extract from a play (scripted), and two group pieces, 
one of which is an extract from a play (scripted) and one which is an original devised piece.

The practical coursework is assessed internally and then moderated externally.

From the syllabus

Below you can find more details about the assessment, taken from the IGCSE Drama syllabus.