DRAMATIC ART
Drama is a social art form which integrates visual, aural, physical, kinaesthetic and performance elements to communicate, explore, reflect on and enhance human experience. The subject Dramatic Arts encompasses a range of performance modes across a variety of media and within a diversity of cultural and social contexts. It develops and promotes human creativity as a rich, diverse and productive resource through dramatic communication, interaction and representation.
Dramatic Arts consists of both theoretical and practical components offered as a Matriculation subject.
The theory syllabus covers theatre history, performance styles, contributions of theatrical practitioners, theatre architecture, arts administration, entertainment marketing and theatre technology.
The practical component of Dramatic Arts will develop the learner’s sensory and emotional perception, imagination, discipline, self-esteem and self image. This subject will also develop a learner’s external personal resources as movement, voice, verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Creative work consists of constructing and performing drama. Through a variety of dramatic forms and practices, learners explore characters and issues drawn from their own ideas, cultures and contexts. The process of creating, making and presenting encourages questioning, justifying, interpreting and shaping meaning.
The skills gained in the subject prepare the students for careers, which focus on communication and interaction with people. Law, management, advertising, marketing, public relations, medicine, journalism, psychology, social work are just a few of the careers, which need good communicators. Although it is not the main aim of the department to train students for the stage and screen, many have found success in the professional fields of the performing arts, especially in the film métier.
Our department is privileged to be in Grahamstown where the National Arts Festival is held. The First Physical Theatre Company and Rhodes University Drama Department are in close proximity to our schools so we are able to draw on the experience and professional input from guest lecturers.
Kelly Long to represent South Africa 25th January 2012
Kelly Long will represent South Africa at the 5th International Sustainable World Project Olympiad in the USA
