VCE Units 3 & 4 - Drama

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Drama

Overview

In VCE Drama, students tell stories, explore ideas, make sense of their worlds and communicate meaning through the practice of performance-making. The study of Drama enables students’ individual and collective identities to be explored, expressed and validated. Students develop an ability to empathise through understanding and accepting diversity.

Unit 3 – Devised Ensemble Performance

In this unit, students explore the work of drama practitioners and draw on contemporary practice as they devise ensemble performance work.  Students explore performance styles and associated conventions from a diverse range of contemporary and/or traditional contexts.  They work collaboratively to devise, develop and present an ensemble performance.  Students create work that reflects a specific performance style or one that draws on multiple performance styles and is therefore eclectic in nature.

Areas of Study:

  1. Devising and Presenting Ensemble Performance – Develop and present characters within a devised ensemble performance that goes beyond a representation of real life as it is lived (Performance and Written Assessment Task).
  2. Analysing and Evaluating a Devised Ensemble Performance – Analyse the use of processes, techniques and skills to create and present a devised ensemble performance (Written Assessment Task).
  3. Analysing and Evaluating a Professional Drama Performance – Analyse and evaluate a professional drama performance (Written Assessment Task).

Unit 4 – Devised Solo Performance

This unit focuses on the development and the presentation of devised solo performances. Students explore contemporary practice, drawing on a range of performance styles and associated conventions from a diverse range of contemporary and historical contexts. Students refine their skills in extracting dramatic potential from stimulus material and use play-making techniques to create, develop and refine a solo performance.

Areas of Study:

  1. Demonstrating Techniques of Solo Performance – Demonstrate, in response to given stimulus material, application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place, and describe the techniques used (Performance, Oral and/or Written Assessment Task).
  2. Devising a Solo Performance – Create, develop and perform a solo performance in response to a prescribed structure (External VCCA Performance Examination).
  3. Analysing and Evaluating Devised Solo Performance – Analyse and evaluate the creation, development and presentation of a solo performance devised in response to a prescribed structure (Written Assessment Task).

Forms of Assessment

Performance, Oral and Written assessment tasks

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Unit 1 & 2 Drama.

Link to Study Design

VCE Drama 2025-2029 Study Design