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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 12

Approaches to drama and theatre

Students investigate, research and experiment with the approaches of theatre making of ONE prescribed practitioner and draw on these approaches to collaboratively devise an ensemble performance. They manipulate dramatic contexts to generate, structure, rehearse, refine and stage their work by applying the conventions of the prescribed practitioner's approach to communicate meaning and creative intent. Students refine creative choices to inform their staged work through critical reflection and evaluation. 

Making
  • Investigate the conventions, practices and contexts of practitioners and their works

  • Experiment with and apply dramatic forms, styles and conventions informed by practitioner approaches

  • Apply artistic, cultural, social and personal protocols and practices collaboratively to devise an ensemble performance

  • Generate, shape and refine performance using ideas, images, stories and stimulus informed by practitioner approaches

  • Apply and refine ensemble processes to support group cohesion, focus and creative intent

  • Experiment with the role of the audience when devising and shaping the performance

  • Plan and shape dramatic moments, including transitions and structure, to engage audience and communicate intended meaning

  • Experiment with and refine the dramatic journey using forms, styles and practitioner conventions

  • Develop ideas, concepts and creative choices using rehearsal experimentation and feedback

  • Experiment with the ways dramatic elements shape dramatic meaning and audience engagement

Performing
  • Realise a shared directorial vision and concept in ensemble performance

  • Apply practitioner approaches to dramatic forms and styles to inform staging, scene impact and audience engagement

  • Manipulate practitioner conventions in performance to communicate intention, character, roles and dramatic meaning

  • Apply conventions and ideas informed by practitioner approaches to develop, stage and refine ensemble performance

  • Use dramatic elements to enact characters and roles appropriate to form and style

  • Adapt performance techniques, including timing, response, focus and spatial awareness

  • Use the dramatic elements to shape meaning and audience engagement

  • Establish, realise and sustain an actor–audience relationship in ensemble performance

Critically reflecting
  • Investigate and analyse the contexts, ideas and practices of dramatic practitioners

  • Evaluate how practitioner approaches to theatre making can inform choices in form and style

  • Assess the ways practitioner processes can be used to influence and inform the development of ensemble performance

  • Evaluate the relationships created between the actor and audience in ensemble work

  • Explain the embodiment of characters and roles in relation to ensemble work

  • Evaluate and analyse dramatic processes used in collaboration to develop, refine, rehearse and perform ensemble work

  • Discuss the use of physically, emotionally and culturally safe processes in staging and performance

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