Year 11 IB Subject Guide 2020

IB – THEATRE

Subject Summary: Theatre is a dynamic, collaborative and live art form. It is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, the taking of risks and the presentation of ideas to others. It results in the development of both theatre and life skills; the building of confidence, creativity and working collaboratively. The IB Diploma Programme theatre course is a multifaceted theatre-making course of study. It gives students the opportunity to make theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes the importance of working both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. It offers the opportunity to engage actively in the creative process, transforming ideas into action as inquisitive and productive artists. Students experience the course from contrasting artistic perspectives. They learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. The theatre course encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre— as participants and audience members—they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world. Through the study of theatre, students become aware of their own personal and cultural perspectives, developing an appreciation of the diversity of theatre practices, their processes and their modes of presentation. It enables students to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international- mindedness. Note: Completion of Years 9 and 10 Performing Arts: Drama is not a prerequisite to entering IB Theatre; however, skills in performance and effective written communication are advantageous. Consultation with Drama staff is recommended.

Assessment Outline: In this course, student work is experienced and assessed through the three dimensions of;

Presenting Theatre Theatre In Context

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Theatre Processes Across the two year course of study, students will complete a variety of practical and theoretical tasks both autonomously and collaboratively with the OP Drama students. These will culminate in the following four tasks, due in Years Eleven and Twelve;

• Solo Piece (Individual Practical and Written Task) • Director’s Notebook (Individual Written Task) • Research Presentation (Individual Practical Task with a focus on World Theatre conventions) • Collaborative Project (Group Performance and Individual Written Task)

Subject Outline: Throughout the two-year course, students engage in a variety of learning experiences that embrace local, national and global dramatic form and styles. The IB Diploma Programme theatre course gives students the opportunity to study a wide variety of performance styles, theatre traditions, theatre theorists and play texts. Students are expected to explore and engage with theatre from a variety of contexts. Through creating, investigating, critically analysing and appreciating differing forms and styles, students deepen their understanding of theatre, as well as their knowledge, understanding and experience of the arts within the global community. They become more informed and reflective, and develop their abilities to become enriched practitioners, communicators, collaborators and creative thinkers. They learn to acknowledge the aspects that appear in all performance forms and theatre traditions, and also to recognize the unique ways in which particular cultures express and represent their values and identity through shared performance. Throughout the course, students are also exposed to a range of play texts and live performances from local and global playwrights, actors, directors and theatre companies.

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