Northern Ireland · CCEASyllabus

Drama syllabus, dot point by dot point

Every dot point in the Northern Ireland Dramasyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.

Component 3: Knowledge and Understanding of Drama

Module overview →

How do you analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance you have seen in the Component 3 exam?
Evaluating live theatre on Component 3 (AO4): analysing and evaluating a live performance seen, including acting and design choices and their effect on the audience, with specific examples and a supported judgement.
10 min answer →
How do you write about genre, style and the stylistic features of a play and its staging?
Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre on Component 3 (AO3): the playwright's use of language, genre and style, theatrical forms and conventions, and the stylistic features of a text and its staging, with context.
11 min answer →
How do you answer a Component 3 question on your set text from the designer's perspective, using set, lighting, sound and costume?
Studying the set/performance text from the designer's perspective on Component 3 (AO1 and AO3): using set, lighting, sound and costume design to create atmosphere, signal meaning and support the action, justified by the text.
11 min answer →
How do you answer a Component 3 question on your set text from the director's perspective?
Studying the set/performance text from the director's perspective on Component 3 (AO1 and AO3): a directorial concept, staging and stage positioning, and directing actors in a rehearsal of an extract to communicate the play's meaning.
10 min answer →
How do you answer a Component 3 question on your set text from the performer's perspective?
Studying the set/performance text from the performer's perspective on Component 3 (AO3): using vocal and physical skills, subtext and relationships to explain how you would play a role or extract, justified by the text.
10 min answer →
What is the actor's toolkit of vocal and physical skills, and how do you write about using them to create a character?
The actor's vocal and physical skills on Component 3 (AO3): voice (pace, pitch, pause, tone, volume, accent, emphasis) and physicality (movement, gesture, posture, facial expression, eye contact, proxemics), and how to write about using them to communicate character and meaning.
10 min answer →