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🧬 GCSE Drama

AQA Pearson Edexcel OCR Eduqas CCEA

Complete revision notes for GCSE Drama covering all topics across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA specifications.

Drama — AQA (22 Topics)

DR1 Stage Types And Spaces DR10 Boal And Theatre Of The Oppressed DR11 Devising Process And Stimulus DR12 Rehearsal Techniques And Strategies DR13 Documenting And Evaluating Devised Work DR14 Refining And Polishing Performance DR15 Interpreting A Script For Performance DR16 Performing A Character From A Script DR17 Set Text Analysis And Exam Preparation DR18 Performing For An Examiner DR19 Analysing Live Theatre DR2 Dramatic Structures And Genres DR20 Evaluating Performance And Design DR21 Writing A Theatre Review DR22 Context And Social Historical Influences DR3 Dramatic Devices And Conventions DR4 Character Creation And Development DR5 Semiotics And Staging Terminology DR6 Stanislavski And Naturalism DR7 Brecht And Epic Theatre DR8 Arthaud And Theatre Of Cruelty DR9 Frantic Assembly And Physical Theatre

Drama — Pearson Edexcel (22 Topics)

DR1 Stage Types And Spaces DR10 Boal And Theatre Of The Oppressed DR11 Devising Process And Stimulus DR12 Rehearsal Techniques And Strategies DR13 Documenting And Evaluating Devised Work DR14 Refining And Polishing Performance DR15 Interpreting A Script For Performance DR16 Performing A Character From A Script DR17 Set Text Analysis And Exam Preparation DR18 Performing For An Examiner DR19 Analysing Live Theatre DR2 Dramatic Structures And Genres DR20 Evaluating Performance And Design DR21 Writing A Theatre Review DR22 Context And Social Historical Influences DR3 Dramatic Devices And Conventions DR4 Character Creation And Development DR5 Semiotics And Staging Terminology DR6 Stanislavski And Naturalism DR7 Brecht And Epic Theatre DR8 Arthaud And Theatre Of Cruelty DR9 Frantic Assembly And Physical Theatre

Drama — OCR (22 Topics)

DR1 Stage Types And Spaces DR10 Boal And Theatre Of The Oppressed DR11 Devising Process And Stimulus DR12 Rehearsal Techniques And Strategies DR13 Documenting And Evaluating Devised Work DR14 Refining And Polishing Performance DR15 Interpreting A Script For Performance DR16 Performing A Character From A Script DR17 Set Text Analysis And Exam Preparation DR18 Performing For An Examiner DR19 Analysing Live Theatre DR2 Dramatic Structures And Genres DR20 Evaluating Performance And Design DR21 Writing A Theatre Review DR22 Context And Social Historical Influences DR3 Dramatic Devices And Conventions DR4 Character Creation And Development DR5 Semiotics And Staging Terminology DR6 Stanislavski And Naturalism DR7 Brecht And Epic Theatre DR8 Arthaud And Theatre Of Cruelty DR9 Frantic Assembly And Physical Theatre

Drama — Eduqas (22 Topics)

DR1 Stage Types And Spaces DR10 Boal And Theatre Of The Oppressed DR11 Devising Process And Stimulus DR12 Rehearsal Techniques And Strategies DR13 Documenting And Evaluating Devised Work DR14 Refining And Polishing Performance DR15 Interpreting A Script For Performance DR16 Performing A Character From A Script DR17 Set Text Analysis And Exam Preparation DR18 Performing For An Examiner DR19 Analysing Live Theatre DR2 Dramatic Structures And Genres DR20 Evaluating Performance And Design DR21 Writing A Theatre Review DR22 Context And Social Historical Influences DR3 Dramatic Devices And Conventions DR4 Character Creation And Development DR5 Semiotics And Staging Terminology DR6 Stanislavski And Naturalism DR7 Brecht And Epic Theatre DR8 Arthaud And Theatre Of Cruelty DR9 Frantic Assembly And Physical Theatre

Drama — CCEA (22 Topics)

DR1 Stage Types And Spaces DR10 Boal And Theatre Of The Oppressed DR11 Devising Process And Stimulus DR12 Rehearsal Techniques And Strategies DR13 Documenting And Evaluating Devised Work DR14 Refining And Polishing Performance DR15 Interpreting A Script For Performance DR16 Performing A Character From A Script DR17 Set Text Analysis And Exam Preparation DR18 Performing For An Examiner DR19 Analysing Live Theatre DR2 Dramatic Structures And Genres DR20 Evaluating Performance And Design DR21 Writing A Theatre Review DR22 Context And Social Historical Influences DR3 Dramatic Devices And Conventions DR4 Character Creation And Development DR5 Semiotics And Staging Terminology DR6 Stanislavski And Naturalism DR7 Brecht And Epic Theatre DR8 Arthaud And Theatre Of Cruelty DR9 Frantic Assembly And Physical Theatre

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

Pearson Edexcel

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

OCR

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

Eduqas

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

CCEA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

Pearson Edexcel

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

OCR

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

Eduqas

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

CCEA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with supported performance and written units. Check your unit list and set-play options.

🎯 Coursework & NEA Guide

How it is assessed (AQA 8261; other boards similar — check): written exam ~40% (set play + live theatre evaluation) · devising ~40% (devised performance + portfolio) · text performance ~20% (two contrasting extracts).

Your NEA frame — devising portfolio structure:

  • Section 1: response to the stimulus — why this idea, what you researched
  • Section 2: development — rehearsal decisions with DATES, what you tried, what you cut, and WHY (mark schemes reward reasoned change)
  • Section 3: your individual contribution — character/notebook evidence, specific vocal/physical choices with references to practitioner techniques
  • Section 4: evaluation — what worked live, what you would revisit, audience impact

Live theatre review prep: at the production you see, note THREE specific design moments (lighting/sound/set) and TWO acting moments with exact descriptions — reviews earn marks by quoting what happened on stage, not by general praise.

Top pitfalls: a portfolio written like a diary (no analysis); extracts from the same scene for both performance pieces; no documented rehearsal changes.