About Theatre IB

Theatre
Theatre is a dynamic, collaborative and live art form.

It is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, the taking of

risks and the presentation of ideas to others. It results in the development of both
theatre and life skills; the building of confidence, creativity and working collaboratively.
The IB Diploma Programme theatre course is a multifaceted theatre-making course of
study. It gives students the opportunity to make theatre as creators, designers, directors
and performers. It emphasizes the importance of working both individually and
collaboratively as part of an ensemble. It offers the opportunity to engage actively in the
creative process, transforming ideas into action as inquisitive and productive artists.

Students experience the course from contrasting artistic perspectives. They learn to
apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. The theatre course
encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating,
preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre as participants and audience
membersthey gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the
world.

Through the study of theatre, students become aware of their own personal and cultural
perspectives, developing an appreciation of the diversity of theatre practices, their
processes and their modes of presentation. It enables students to discover and engage
with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international-
mindedness.

Key features of the curriculum model

To fully prepare students for the demands of the assessment tasks, teachers should
ensure that their planning addresses each of the syllabus activities outlined below, the
content and focus of which is not prescribed. Students are required to investigate the
core syllabus areas from the perspectives of creator, designer, director, performer and
spectator.

THEATRE IN THEATRE PRESENTING

CONTEXT PROCESSES THEATRE

HL Creating theatre At HL, students At HL, students At HL, students

ONLY based on research and examine practically explore at create, present and
theatre theory the various contexts of least one theatre evaluate at least one
at least one theatre theorist theatre piece based
theorist. collaboratively and on an aspect(s) of a
engage with the theatre theorists
process of creating a work they have
piece of theatre explored.
based on their
theory.

SL & Working with Students research and Students take part in Students direct at
HL play texts examine the various the practical least one scene or
contexts of at least one exploration of at section from one
published play text and least two contrasting published play text
reflect on live theatre published play texts which is presented to
moments they have and engage with the others.
experienced as process of
spectators. transforming a play
text into action.

SL & Examining Students research and Students practically Students present a

HL world theatre examine the various examine the moment of theatre to
traditions contexts of at least one performance others which
world theatre tradition. conventions of at demonstrates the
least one world performance
theatre tradition and convention(s) of at
apply this to the least one world
staging of a moment theatre tradition.
of theatre.

SL & Collaboratively Students reflect on Students respond to Students participate

HL creating their own personal at least one starting in at least one
original theatre approaches, interests point and engage production of a
and skills in theatre. with the process of collaboratively
They research and transforming it created piece of
 examine at least one collaboratively into original theatre,
starting point and the an original piece of created from a
approaches employed theatre. starting point, which
by one appropriate is presented to
professional theatre others.
company, and consider
how this might
influence their own
personal approaches.

Students keep a theatre journal throughout the two-year theatre course which charts
their development