F.A.O Drama/English Teachers – GCSE ‘Set Text’ 2016

"I think I've died and gone to heaven. These schemes of work are amazing" Andrew English, Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire

“The 39 Steps scheme of work is brilliant. It’s
   well worth the money and all the hard work is
     done for you’. Lance Keegan, Royal Latin School, Buckingham

Hello fellow teachers,

My schemes of work - The 39 Steps, The Crucible, How Theatre Works and a free resource, Contemporary Practitioners - make teaching the new AQA Drama GCSE Study of Set Text, easier for us and so more inspiring for students, especially those with practical abilities who learn best by doing.

My acting career took me to the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Court and Shakespeare’s Globe before writing numerous episodes of the BAFTA winning BBC series The Chuckle Brothers. These days, I am Head of Creative Arts at a school in Kent, teaching a wide range of students with very different abilities.

This scheme of work ‘tool kit’ is about exploration, improvisation, curiosity, risk taking and, it goes without saying, dressing up, wearing hats, false moustaches and doing silly walks, while still managing to cover examination topics.

I approach play texts using the same methods I was taught in the professional theatre, motivating the students to embrace the world of each play, so they develop their own ideas and unique interpretations.

I know how hectic a drama teacher’s life is, so these schemes explore the text in detail and the roles of the actors and the lighting, sound and costume designers. Little preparation is needed and the one hour lesson plans are simply laid out and a doddle to follow. There are easy to photocopy handouts, lots of inspiring videos and many web links.

Scroll down to see further information about the different products.

Siobhan Fogarty
(The Curious Theatre Company)

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
AQA GCSE set text resources for the new 2016 specification

Product Description

Lesson One: To consider and discuss the historical, social and cultural context of The Crucible.
Lesson Two: To explore and understand the themes of witchcraft in The Crucible.
Lesson Three: To understand symbolism and themes in The Crucible.
Lesson Four: To understand the impact of false accusations in the world of The Crucible.
Lesson Five: To extract relevant information from the text and develop an ability to interpret meaning from the script.
Lesson Six: To research, explore and analyse characters.
Lesson Seven: To create and develop character interpretations.
Lesson Eight: To learn how to score a text, using beats, vocal inflection, and transitive verbs.
Lesson Nine: To research set design and props in preparation for your stage realisation.
Lesson Ten: To create and develop your stage realisation.
Lesson Eleven: To research costumes, accessories, and makeup in order to create an inspiring overall design.
Lesson Twelve: To consider lighting and sound effects in order to create inspiring designs.

Price £35.00

Click on the link for The Curious Theatre Company online shop
http://thecurioustheatrecompany.com/product/the-crucible/

The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow
AQA GCSE set text resources for the new 2016 specification

Production Description

Lesson One: To consider and discuss the historical, social and cultural context.
Lesson Two: To explore and create multiple character roles and relate this to the play.
Lesson Three: To explore and create multiple locations within the play.
Lesson Four: To understand and demonstrate the concept of ‘pastiche’.
Lesson Five: To extract relevant information from the text and develop an ability to interpret meaning from the script.
Lesson Six: To research, explore and analyse characters.
Lesson Seven: To create and develop a character.
Lesson Eight: To learn how to score a text, using beats, vocal inflection, and transitive verbs.
Lesson Nine: To research set design and props in preparation for a stage realisation.
Lesson Ten: To begin to create and develop a stage realisation.
Lesson Eleven: To research costumes, accessories, and makeup in order to create an inspiring overall design.
Lesson Twelve: To consider lighting and sound effects in order to create inspiring designs.

Price £35.00
Click on the link below to visit The Curious Theatre Company online shop

http://thecurioustheatrecompany.com/product/the-39-steps/

Theatre Roles & Terminology
Component 1: Understanding Drama, Section ‘A’
 

Product Description

Lesson One: To explore theatre buildings and spaces.
Lesson Two: To explore staging and stage configurations.
Lesson Three: To understand job roles in theatre.
Lesson Four: To research lighting and sound.
Lesson Five: To explore costume and make-up and prepare for assessment.
Lesson Six: To complete the assessment.

Price £15.00
Click on the link below to visit The Curious Theatre Company online shop
http://thecurioustheatrecompany.com/product/how-theatre-works/

Contemporary Practitioners 
A FREE resource covering the work of four contemporary theatre practitioners, an ideal introduction for KS3 students

Product Description

Lesson One: To introduce physical and visual theatre companies.
Lesson Two: To identify and employ the basic concepts of Kneehigh Theatre Company.
Lesson Three: To identify and employ the basic concepts of Theatre De Complicite.
Lesson Four: To identify and employ the basic concepts of Melly Still.
Lesson Five: To identify and employ the basic concepts of Forkbeard Fantasy Theatre Company.
Lesson Six: To assess performance in order to reveal the students understanding of contemporary practitioners by creating a short improvisation.

Click on the link below to visit The Curious Theatre Company online shop
http://thecurioustheatrecompany.com/product/contemporary-practitioners/

Stan v Bert
A Learning ‘Play-Source’ 

“Fabulous. Professional. Informative. Fun. We all got so much out of it and I'd recommend them wholeheartedly.”   Wendy Dopheide, Drama Teacher 

“Absolutely incredible. Best way for our students to learn the history of both 'Stan' and 'Bert'.”  Mikyla Francis, Drama Teacher
                                       
Product description

A one hour two-hander, written and performed by Richard Attlee (Kenton in The Archers) especially for schools, Stan v Bert is a novel and entertaining way to educate pupils about the theories and techniques of Stanislavski and Brecht. Accompanying the performance is a post-show discussion where students can discuss issues raised in the play and talk to the actors about the profession.

The price includes the performance, a post-show discussion and two one hour follow up lesson plans.

Price: £290
Click on the link below to visit The Curious Theatre Company online shop

http://thecurioustheatrecompany.com/school-workshops/stan-v-bert-play/

Checkout our website at www.thecurioustheatrecompany.com for more
resources and play texts

or contact us at info@thecurioustheatrecompany.com

The Curious Theatre Company
2 Prospect Cottages, Long Barn Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6NH.