Royal Court Release BBC Bitesize Films for GCSE Drama Students Study Aid

For the last four years, the Royal Court Theatre’s Participation team have been championing the use of current and representative texts and practitioners in the classroom. Working closely with exam boards, and in collaboration with Hamlett Films, the BBC Bitesize GCSE Drama resources were created. 

Each module of the Drama GCSE exam (for all exam boards) are included in the online resource which is spilt into the following categories Understanding Drama & Theatre, Performing Characters, Theatre Design, Devising, Scripted Drama and Written Exam, to help the user explore videos and tools featuring Royal Court plays, writers, creatives, staff and young people. 

Artists involved include Alex Austin, Michael Buffong, Matilda Cobham, Marieme Diouf, Vicky Featherstone, Jacob Hughes, Jessica Hung Han Yun, Charlene James, Duramany Kamara, Jessica Kennedy, Georgia Landers, Lucy Morrison, Anastasia Osei Kuffour, Natalie Pryce, Khai Shaw, Sita Thomas, and Vishni Velada-Billson.

Resources cover eight plays that have been performed on the Royal Court stage including Instructions for Correct Assembly by Thomas Eccleshare, Cuttin it by Charlene James, A Kind of People by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti , seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones, Gundog by Simon Longman, Pity by Rory Mullarkey, Poet in da Corner by Debris Stevenson feat. Jammz, and On Bear Ridge by Ed Thomas.

Commenting on the project Vishni Velada-Billson, Head of Participation at the Royal Court Theatre said;  

“We were delighted when we were approached by BBC Bitesize to create a set of resources for GSCE Drama students and teachers. Over the last few years the Royal Court Participation team have been working closely with exam boards and teachers to synergise the theatre industry with education. Being invited to share and celebrate Royal Court playtexts, practitioners’ expertise, and artists’ thinking on such a prolific platform, with direct access to the next generation of theatre makers, was an opportunity we were proud to be a part of. The BBC Bitesize Drama series is a unique space of support and guidance, offering content which reflects upon and interrogates theatre practice. Now, more than ever, we hope many students can use it as a helpful study aid. We’ve worked with our colleagues in other parts of the BBC and education experts from around the UK to make sure that everyone who wishes to, can access learning resources during this uncertain time.” 

The BBC Bitesize films were made in collaboration with Hamlett Films. The Royal Court is a member of the Drama, Theatre and Education Alliance and contributed to the Drama, Theatre and Young People Manifesto. 

From 20 April the BBC will be giving students access to regular daily lessons in English and Maths, as well as other core subjects, in an expanded version of this on their website and also on special programmes broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button. 

To see the modules, click here.

For the full press release, click here.