Performing Arts

If you are a creative individual who has enjoyed dance/drama at KS3 then you will enjoy taking a deeper look at performance pieces at GCSE, alongside the skills needed to ensure they run successfully.

For students with their sights set on a career in the performance industry, a BTEC in Performing Arts is a great choice. The practice-based courses aim to provide students with the relevant skills and knowledge that employers value, as well as the confidence to progress into a fulfilling, exciting career in a creative industry.

The performing arts are a major part of the creative and cultural industries in the UK, which in 2017–2018 were growing at over five times the rate of the wider UK economy, contributing £111.7 billion a year to the economy. There were more than 9,000 enterprises in the performing arts industry in 2018, and in 2019 more than 82,000 people working in a wide range of roles from performers to designers and directors. The skills developed through the study of performing arts are integral to roles across the creative industry, including film and TV, theatre, games and advertising.

EXAM BOARD: Pearson


HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?

In this course there are three internally assessed components:

COMPONENT UNIT TITLE ASSESSMENT METHOD GCSE WEIGHTING
01 Exploring the
Performing Arts		 Internal Assessment 33%
02 Developing
Skills and
Techniques in
the Performing
Arts		 Internal Assessment 33%
03 Responding to
a Brief		 Set task marked by Pearson 33%


WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?


COMPONENT 1

Learners will develop their understanding of the performing arts by examining the work of performing arts professionals and the processes used to create performance. To develop in the performing arts, you will need a broad understanding of performance work and influences. This component will help you to understand the requirements of being a performer (in acting, dance or musical theatre) and/or designer (in lighting, props, costume, set, makeup or sound) across at least three performances and performance styles. In this component you will develop a practical understanding of how performing arts work is created. You will look at elements such as roles, responsibilities and the application of relevant skills and techniques. You will have the chance to explore practically the work of different professionals to develop an appreciation of the methods they use to explore a theme and communicate to audiences through their work. You will broaden your knowledge through observing existing repertoire and by learning about professionals’ approaches and how they create and influence performance material.

 

COMPONENT 2

Learners will develop their performing arts skills and techniques through the reproduction of acting, dance and/or musical theatre repertoire as performers or designers. Working as a performer or designer requires the application of skills, techniques and practices that enable you to produce and interpret performance work. You will communicate intentions to an audience through a chosen discipline, such as performing or designing in any performance style from acting, dance or musical theatre. In this component, you will develop performing or design skills and techniques. You will have the opportunity to specialise as a performer or designer in one or more of the following disciplines: acting, dance, musical theatre. You will take part in workshops and classes where you will develop technical, practical and interpretative skills through the rehearsal and performance process. You will work from existing performing arts repertoire, applying relevant skills and techniques to reproduce performance or design elements of the work. Throughout your development, you will review your own progress and consider how to make improvements.

 

COMPONENT 3

Learners will be given the opportunity to work as part of a group to contribute to a workshop performance as either a performer or a designer in response to a brief and stimulus. Live performance can happen in a number of places and for a range of reasons. For example, you may perform in a traditional performance space to an audience to communicate ideas about a particular theme or issue, or you may be part of a touring group that takes a performance to a community setting, such as a local school, to teach a young audience a safety message. In this component, you will have the opportunity to respond to a brief. You will be given a brief that outlines the performance and design requirements and asks you to consider your target audience and to start the creative process by using the stimulus included in the brief. Working as part of a group, you will develop your ideas for a workshop performance and apply your skills and techniques to communicate your creative intentions to your audience.

 

MORE INFORMATION

If you have any further questions, please speak to Mr Little.

You can also find more detailed information on the Pearson website.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/performing-arts-2022.html

CAREERS IN Performing Arts

Performing Arts is useful for any role where you need to present yourself well to others and fits in well with a range of creative careers. Below is a sample of some roles that studying Performing Arts could lead to.

– Actors and actresses work in live stage performances and/ or recorded media such as film and television. Their job is to bring to life, as effectively as possible, the role they are playing. They use their own experience and emotions to help them portray characters. There are many different routes into this career. While there are no minimum requirements, most entrants complete a professional training course at a drama school.

- Stage Managers work 'behind the scenes' in theatres, arts centres and so on, helping productions to run smoothly. They make sure that the actors and actresses are ready on time, that props and stage furniture are in the correct position for each scene, and that cues are given to sound and lighting operators at the right moment. In small theatre companies, stage managers may also look after other areas of a production, such as lighting design and set construction.

- Theatre Technicians work in a variety of roles in theatres and similar institutions. The job includes a range of specialisms. Lighting technicians install and angle floodlights, spotlights and so on, according to the directions of the lighting designer. They might also have to operate the lights during a performance, following the action on the stage and cues from the stage manager. Sound technicians create and record sound effects, background music while other technicians are responsible for areas such as set construction and special effects.

- Costume Designers design and create the costumes used in theatre. For a historical play, this may involve a lot of research. Working to a budget, they decide how the costumes can be created to look as genuine as possible, while meeting the needs of the performers. For example, they take into account any quick costume changes during a production. Costume designers may supervise a team of wardrobe staff who have to prepare the costumes and ensure they are kept clean and in good condition throughout the run of a performance. The usual route towards a career as a costume designer is to complete a degree or HND in a relevant design specialism such as theatre, costume or fashion design.

- Drama teachers teach the skills of drama and theatre arts. They work in schools, colleges of further education, universities, specialist drama schools, youth and community groups and arts centres, and for local authorities as drama advisers. Many drama teachers working in schools also teach a related subject, such as English. They teach pupils how to study plays, write scripts, design sets, and direct and perform a piece of drama. To become a secondary school drama teacher, you'll need a degree that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or to follow a relevant degree with postgraduate training leading to QTS. - You could also study Drama with the aim of becoming a Drama Therapist, Arts Administrator or Dancer.

Take a look at some of the jobs we've identified below that make use of Performing Art:

Make-up Artist

Yoga Instructor

Event Manager

Youtuber