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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 11

Improvising and devising

Students explore how spontaneous, unscripted action is used to generate, shape and refine new ideas and possibilities for dramatic work. Experimenting with movement, voice and relationships, students build imaginative and embodied work in response to a range of stimulus and contexts. Through discussion and rehearsal, they devise cohesive moments and engaging dramatic action. Students develop their understanding of how creative and critical dramatic processes are used to shape intention and dramatic meaning as they evaluate and refine their choices.

Making
  • Collaborate safely and respectfully using agreed protocols, roles and responsibilities

  • Collaboratively develop and refine directorial concept and creative intent for devised and scripted works

  • Apply collaborative and improvisational approaches to enhance ensemble focus, energy and cohesion

  • Use research, images, stories and ideas to shape dramatic meaning

  • Collaborate to refine directorial concept and creative intent for devised and scripted works

  • Experiment with dramatic elements to refine and shape the dramatic journey for audience engagement

  • Adapt conventions, forms and styles through the devising process to shape dramatic meaning

  • Create and shape dramatic forms, styles and elements for audience engagement

  • Generate and refine creative and critical ideas to shape the creative intent of an ensemble

Performing
  • Apply safe and inclusive processes and protocols to support performers, practitioners and audience members for the staging and live performance of dramatic works

  • Perform with cohesion, energy, focus and intent to support the dramatic journey and communicate meaning through dramatic contexts

  • Embody character, roles and ideas with intention in rehearsal and performance

  • Control appropriate performance skills to communicate characters, roles, relationships and dramatic meaning

  • Apply blocking, proxemics, transitions and stage space to refine and focus intentional dramatic action to shape meaning and audience engagement

Critically reflecting
  • Reflect on research and stimulus used to generate ideas, images and concepts in devised works, considering dramatic contexts and perspectives

  • Assess the application of dramatic elements in improvised and devised dramatic works

  • Assess the dramatic contexts and processes applied in the development, refinement, rehearsals and performance of the ensemble work

  • Evaluate group choices and moments in performance to consider their impact on audience engagement and meaning

  • Document the impact of the creative and collaborative processes used to shape creative intent

  • Discuss dramatic moments and creative choices and use individual and collaborative feedback to refine dramatic work

  • Use safe processes to share ideas and provide feedback as a maker, performer and audience member

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