Theatre History: Scheme of Work for KS3 Drama

Covers:
  • Ancient Greek theatre
  • Jacobean theatre
  • Commedia dell’arte
  • Restoration theatre
  • Naturalism
  • Brecht
  • Theatre of the absurd
  • Modern and contemporary theatre

Take your students on a whirlwind tour through the history of theatre from the open-air theatres of Ancient Greece right up to the twenty-first century with this fully resourced six-lesson scheme of work.

Along the way they will develop key drama skills and explore a wide range of engaging theatre styles and the contextual factors that influenced their creation.

Extremely detailed and the accompanying resources are useful

B Meugens, Drama Teacher & Peer Reviewer

Drama skills developed: characterisation, performing, evaluating, comedy, slapstick, rehearsal, duologue, staging, pace, timing, physicality (movement), ensemble, voice, costume, subtext, naturalism, narration, use of props, Verfremdungseffect, devising

For each lesson:
  • Detailed plans, including starters, mains, plenaries and homeworks – pick up and teach
  • Ready-made student worksheets and handouts – no preparation needed
Includes:
  • Peer- and self-review opportunities – develop key assessment skills
  • Carefully structured lessons with multiple activities to maximise engagement
  • A final assessed performance allowing students to showcase their achievements

Plus! Supporting PowerPoints with teacher notes ‒ perfect for visual learners and whole-class engagement!

What do teachers say about this resource? (10881)

A fabulous resource and so important for this age range.

Covers a broad range of theatre styles and gives students an opportunity to experience many difference performance styles and reflect on their own impressions and responses to each era – an excellent basis to support their subsequent Drama lessons.

Good range of activities and assessment opportunities built in.

Great choice of texts.

Very useful for all students (not just ones who go on to study drama) covers lots of fundamental creative influences on our performing arts of today.

Encourages group discussion, working in a variety of group sizes etc.

Good amount of resources to support homework.

R Crosbie, Head of Drama & Peer Reviewer

A very good resource, with each lesson as a stand alone lesson you can pick and choose which lessons are suitable for you. They all follow the same pattern which is useful. The information is detailed enough for you to teach from... There are a good range of different history periods to work through... PowerPoints are clear and useful and the detailed notes to explain each slide are very useful... Homework tasks are good and relevant... It quickly introduces pupils to a wide range of drama styles and famous playwrights... It allows for plenty of scripted and improvised work on a wide range of topics... Everything is very clear... Gives pupils lots of different starting points for performances, allows them to create a range of different characters and to act in a wide range of styles.

S Barber, Head of Drama & Peer Reviewer

Extremely detailed and the accompanying resources are useful.

I liked the level of effort and detail that has gone into the planning and the quality of the resources.

It gives an overview of the history of theatre which is, I feel, essential to students understanding of drama and theatre today. Therefore, this could be beneficial to both KS3 and KS4.

B Meugens, Drama Teacher & Peer Reviewer