Why study Drama?

Drama gives you the opportunity to use your imagination and express yourself in a creative and practical way. It helps you to develop important skills such as problem solving, communication, planning and creative thinking. It is particularly suitable for those who love being creative, getting their ideas across in a dramatic way and communicating their ideas with others.

The skills that you develop in Drama are useful in many different careers, including: communications and media, theatre, film, TV, radio, costume design, production, writing and teaching.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

Communications and Media

Performing Arts

What do I need to get in?

This is at the discretion of the school/college but you would normally be expected to have attained:

• Higher Drama

What will I study?

During this course you will be:

• exploring and investigating the influence, theory and practice of influential theatre practitioners 
• identifying and exploring a relevant performance issue 
• analysing and evaluating the impact of key productions by influential theatre practitioners 
• applying creative and critical thinking to synthesise ideas and arguments 
• interpreting the historical, social, cultural and/or political contexts of complex texts 
• analysing and interpreting the role and craft of the actor, director, and designer
• working independently to produce a theatrical concept
• applying skills in acting, directing, or design
• creating and presenting your own theatrical concepts
• investigating how meaning can be communicated to an audience
• using a range of complex creative problem-solving, planning and evaluation skills within the creative process.

How will I be assessed?

Course assessment

The course assessment consists of three components totalling 100 marks:

• Component 1 - Project - dissertation (worth 30 marks)
• Component 2 - Assignment (worth 20 marks)
• Component 3 - Performance (worth 50 marks).

Project component – You will choose an aspect of drama that interests you and carry out independent research. You should demonstrate your understanding of influential theatre practitioners and their impact on professional theatre practice, and performance theories, processes and practices within the context of their identified performance issue. The dissertation should be between 2500 and 3000 words.

Assignment component – You will analyse a professional theatrical production and the work of at least one theatre practitioner (actor, director, and/or designer) involved in the production. This could be of a live, live streamed, recorded live theatrical or historical performance - the chosen performance must be a play. The assignment has two stages: research and production of evidence.

Performance component – You will have three options to choose from, of either acting, directing or design.

The project and assignment components will be externally assessed and marked by SQA.

The performance component will be marked by an SQA visiting assessor.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.

The course assessment is graded A-D.

What can I go on to next?

Further study, training or employment in:

• Communications and Media
• Performing Arts

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Drama - Related Careers