Department Head: Emily Dewar
DRAMA
| Teacher | |
| Ms. E. Dewar | emily.dewar@burnabyschools.ca |
Drama 8
Drama 8 is an introductory course which offers students opportunities to develop various dramatic skills to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world through imagination and interaction. Drama encourages students to: trust themselves and others; reflect on thoughts, feelings and beliefs; take risks within a dramatic context; and actively express themselves in body and voice. Working in role and as part of an ensemble through team work, communication and cooperation is emphasized throughout the course. Through a variety of theatre games, improvisation, exercises, and projects students will be introduced to basic techniques to create theatre and explore themes and situations. Daily warm-ups and exercises are designed to develop trust, respect for one’s self and others, self-confidence, spontaneity, commitment and concentration. Students are encouraged to approach the course with an open mind, kind attitude towards others and willingness to enthusiastically participate.
Drama 9
Drama 9 students learn to express themselves through voice and body, take risks and build trust within a dramatic context. The course reinforces and extends the attitudes, knowledge and skills offered in Drama 8 and will further develop skills in drama and theatre elements and techniques. Students are exposed to script work and will also apply theatre conventions to creating and devising their own pieces. Drama 9 provides more opportunity for performances, both improvised and scripted and begins to examine basic technical aspects of theatre. Students will collaboratively and individually develop their ideas by employing a large variety of creative techniques such as improvisation, role-playing, characterization, storytelling, and positive criticism. Daily warm-ups and exercises are designed to develop trust, respect for one’s self and others, self-confidence, spontaneity, commitment and concentration. Students are encouraged to approach the course with an open mind, kind attitude towards others and willingness to enthusiastically participate.
Drama 10
This course extends and develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to explore ideas in a dramatic context. This class reinforces and extends the attitudes, knowledge and skills offered in Drama 8/9 but with a greater emphasis on performance. Students develop an understanding of the elements of theatre and will continue to explore fundamental aspects of technical theatre while being provided with a range of performance opportunities. Students will analyze and perform scripts and characters, as well as devise their own original performance pieces. Drama 10 students collaboratively and individually develop their ideas through creative techniques such as improvisation, role-playing, characterization, devising, and a study of theatre form. Daily warm-ups and exercises are designed to develop trust, respect for one’s self and others, self-confidence, spontaneity, commitment and concentration. Students are encouraged to approach the course with an open mind, kind attitude towards others and willingness to enthusiastically participate.
Theatre Acting Drama 11
Emphasis is placed on developing a deeper understanding of the elements of creating, analyzing, and reflecting on theatre. Students are presented with increasingly challenging projects and performance opportunities. The course includes acting techniques, script interpretation and analysis, a study of historical theatre form and style, and advanced characterization. Acting 11 aims to increase theatrical knowledge, develop critical appreciation of live theatre, and draw upon the imagination of students in creating performance. Focusing on drama as a performance art, it is expected that students will demonstrate the attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to work within a performance group, including teamwork, adaptability, mutual support, commitment and leadership. The focus is on acting for theatre not acting for film and television. Students are encouraged to approach the course with an open mind, kind attitude towards others and willingness to enthusiastically participate in class and during performance opportunities.
Theatre Acting Drama 12
Acting 12 develops students’ understanding of theatre elements, conventions and techniques at an advanced level. Students are expected to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes in theatre which will enhance their personal, educational and career development. The course includes advanced acting techniques, script interpretation and analysis, theatre history, an exploration of genres, and in-depth characterization. Students develop an understanding of the interconnected roles and responsibilities required in theatre. Acting 12 fosters critical appreciation of all elements of live theatre. Focusing on drama as a performance art, it is expected that students will demonstrate the attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to work within a performance group, including teamwork, adaptability, mutual support, commitment and leadership. The focus is on acting for theatre not acting for film and television. Students are encouraged to approach the course with an open mind, kind attitude towards others and willingness to enthusiastically participate in class and during performance opportunities.
Theatre Company 8 (After School 3:15 pm)
Theatre Company 8 offers Grade 8 students an exciting opportunity to develop their stage acting and performance skills by participating in a full-scale live theatre production. Students will work as an ensemble, learning about the rehearsal and performance process while exploring the interconnected roles that bring a production to life.
This course encourages creativity, teamwork, and reflection, helping students build confidence, improve communication skills, and develop a strong sense of community. While acting and performance are the main focus, students will also gain a better understanding of the technical and organizational aspects of theatre production.
Theatre Company 8 is offered outside of the regular timetable and meets after school at 3:15. Students are required to commit to attending rehearsals and contributing to the production process. A high level of dedication and a positive attitude are essential for success.
No prior experience is necessary—just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to work together to create something special!
Theatre Production Stagecraft 8 (3:15 pm after school)
Theatre Company Stagecraft 8 offers Grade 8 students an exciting opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes elements of live theatre production. Students will work as a team to explore the technical and organizational roles that bring a performance to life, including set design, lighting, sound, costumes, props, and backstage management.
This course encourages creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, helping students build practical skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community. While the focus is on stagecraft, students will also learn how their contributions support the overall success of the production and create an immersive experience for the audience.
Theatre Company Stagecraft 8 is offered outside of the regular timetable and meets after school at 3:15. Students are required to commit to attending rehearsals, working on production tasks, and supporting the performance process. A high level of dedication and a positive attitude are essential for success.
No prior experience is necessary—just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to collaborate on creating something amazing behind the scenes!
Theatre Company Acting 10 – 12 (3:15 pm after school)
Theatre Company provides students with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of stage acting and performance through the framework of participating in one or two live theatre productions. Students will gain practical skills and knowledge while working as an ensemble. They will learn about the interconnected roles and responsibilities, including backstage and front-of-house protocol. Theatre Company encourages creativity, collaboration, and reflection. Through participation in the rehearsal and performance process, students learn valuable personal and interpersonal skills that can be applied in broader contexts. The course aims to build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a strong sense of community within the company and crew. While acting and performance is the primary focus, all students are expected to make contributions to technical and administrative aspects of production.
Theatre Company is a four-credit elective course that is offered outside of the regular timetable, but each student will be required to attend at least as many hours as they would for a course inside of the regular schedule. This course requires a high level of commitment. The time will be arranged according to the needs of the production schedule.
Audition or teacher’s recommendation is required for this course and enrollment in Drama 10 or Acting 11/12 is strongly suggested.
Theatre Production Design and Technology 10 – 12 (3:15 pm after school)
Theatre Production provides students with an opportunity to develop their skills in production, design and technology through the framework of working on one or two live theatre productions. Students will gain practical skills and knowledge while working on marketing, stage-management, sound, lighting, costume, sets, props and/or make-up. This course is adaptable to students interests and skills. Students will learn about the interconnected roles and responsibilities, including backstage and front-of-house protocol. Theatre Production encourages creativity in design, thoughtful research, collaboration, and reflection. The course aims to build leadership skills, celebrate creativity, strengthen communication skills and develop a strong sense of community within the company and crew.
Theatre Production is a four-credit elective course that is offered outside of the regular timetable, but each student will be required to attend at least as many hours as they would for a course inside of the regular schedule. This course requires a high level of commitment. The time will be arranged according to the needs of the production schedule.
An interview or teacher’s recommendation is required for this course and enrollment in Acting 10/11/12 is strongly suggested, although not required.
Theatre Leadership 11
This course develops students’ understanding of theatre elements through the eyes of a leader and director. Theatre leadership occurs in a concurrent junior drama class. Students will be involved in the class through leading warm-up exercises, offering direction during projects, and the creative challenge of mounting meaningful theatrical pieces of work for an audience. Theatre Leadership encourages develops creativity, collaboration, communication skills and reflection.
Theatre Leadership 12
This course further develops students’ understanding of theatre elements through the eyes of a leader and director. Theatre leadership occurs in a concurrent junior drama class. Students will be involved in the class through leading warm-up exercises, offering direction during projects, and the creative challenge of mounting meaningful theatrical pieces of work for an audience. Theatre Leadership encourages develops creativity, collaboration, communication skills and reflection.
Improv Company 10-12 (3:15 pm after school)
Improv Company provides students with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of stage improvisation through the framework of practicing for improv performances, including the Canadian Improv Games. The emphasis of this course is to provide and elaborate on the basic improvisation skills: listening, clarity, confidence, cooperation and performing instinctively and spontaneously. Students will build on skills learned in Drama in character, story and environment work to perform improvisation scenes, creating work alone, in pairs and within ensembles. Improv challenges students to both trust their initial impulses and to explore novel ideas that go beyond these first instincts. Students learn to generate inspired ideas from disparate concepts; to innovatively build upon the ideas of others; and to assess scenes and imaginative choices. Improv Company encourages creativity, collaboration, and spontaneity. The course intends to build confidence, strengthen communication skills and develop a strong sense of community within the company. It is a four-credit elective course that is offered outside of the regular timetable.
Audition or teacher’s recommendation is required for this course and enrollment in Drama 10 or Acting 11/12 is suggested.