Dramatic Arts

Overview of Grade 9 and 10 
Drama study at the Grade 9 and 10 level provides students with an opportunity to take on roles and to create and enter into imagined worlds. They learn in a unique way about themselves, the art of drama, and the world around them. Students engage in social interaction and collaboration as they create, perform, and analyse drama. Through informal presentations and more formal performances, students use drama to communicate their aesthetic and personal values.

Students develop their awareness and use of the elements of drama (role/character, relationship, time and place, focus and emphasis, and tension) to create drama works that are related to their personal interests and experience. In these courses, they will experience being performer, audience, playwright, technician, designer, and critic.

By communicating in both their real and imagined worlds, students acquire proficiency in listening, speaking, questioning, and problem solving. Through the process of taking on roles, students develop and express empathy for people in a wide range of situations. They develop the ability to interpret and comment on a range of drama works and activities and evaluate their own and others’ creative work.

Students will explore using a wide variety of dramatic conventions, including tableau, mime, mask, improvisation, movement, voice, monologue, role play, story telling, scene study and playwriting.

Overview of Grade 11 and 12
At the Grade 11 and 12 level, drama students extend their understanding and interpretation of dramatic texts, forms, characters, and theatrical productions. They incorporate a variety of dramatic elements and conventions in their performances and productions. Students engage in increasingly effective social interactions and collaboration as they create, perform, and analyse drama. In these courses, students will experience being performer, audience, playwright, technician, designer, and critic.

Students use the elements of drama (role/character, relationship, time and place, focus and emphasis, and tension) to create works that are related to their personal interest and experience. In doing so, they integrate technology to enhance the impact of drama works and to help convey mood, create tension, and communicate a message.

Students examine how different styles and traditions of drama can affect social and cultural conditions in a variety of Canadian and global contexts. Students explore various opportunities for careers in drama and other arts while developing skills that can be linked to a range of careers. They enhance their ability to analyse and interpret a range of drama work, and reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ creative work.

Students will explore movement, script analysis, Canadian scene study, original script writing, Turn of the Century drama, lighting, sound, set design, play production.  The grade 11 students will write an original play and perform for an audience of students and the grade 12 students will select, rehearse, produce and perform and evening of one act plays.