A dynamic, collaborative and live art form, theatre is a powerful form of expressive communication requiring practical inquiry, experimentation, creative risk taking and the presentation of ideas to others.
Theatre is a dynamic, collaborative and live art form, the basis of which is inquiry into the human condition; what makes us human, the actions we take and the stories we tell, how we interact and how we share our visions.
The theatre course encourages discovery through practical inquiry, experimentation, creative risk taking and the presentation of ideas to others. Theatre is a powerful form of expressive communication and students are required to consider their responsibilities as theatre-makers. They must think carefully about what they wish to communicate and how to best to do so.
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 members—they 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.
Core syllabus
Staging play texts
This area of the syllabus addresses the transformation of play texts into action. Students examine the ways in which ideas are articulated in texts by playwrights and the ways in which performance and production elements can be used to effectively fulfill theatre-maker intentions.
Exploring world theatre traditions
This area of the syllabus addresses the authentic exploration of world theatre traditions through academic and practical research and exploration. Students inquire into and physically explore world theatre traditions, performance conventions and performance material from those traditions in order to acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the traditions through the body and/or voice.
Collaboratively creating original theatre
This area of the syllabus addresses the collaborative development and performance of original theatre as part of an ensemble of theatre-makers. Students formulate intentions for theatre-making and examine the ways in which these intentions can be effectively realized through the collaborative creation of original performance work inspired by a starting point.
Performing theatre theory (HL only)
This area of the syllabus addresses the exploration of aspects of theatre theory and the ways in which theory can inform performance. Students research at least one theatre theorist, identify an aspect of their theory and apply this to create and present theatre work that demonstrates this aspect of theory in performance.
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Assessment task |
Internal/ External |
SL |
HL |
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Production proposal Students at SL and HL choose a published play text they have not previously studied and formulate a vision for the design and theoretical staging of the entire play text for an audience. These ideas are presented in the form of a proposal. Each student submits the following. 1. A production proposal (a maximum of 12 pages of written text and images, with written text not exceeding 4,000 words) plus a list of all sources used. |
Internal |
30% |
20% |
|
Research presentation Students at SL and HL plan, deliver and video record an individual research presentation (15 minutes maximum) in which they provide evidence of their academic and practical exploration and learning of a world theatre tradition they have not previously studied. Each student submits the following. 1. A video recording of the student’s research presentation (15 minutes maximum). 2. A list of all sources cited and any additional resources used by the student during the presentation. |
External |
30% |
20% |
|
Collaborative project Students at SL and HL collaboratively create and perform an original piece of theatre (lasting 7–10 minutes maximum) created from a starting point of their choice. The piece is presented to an audience as a fully-realized production. Each student submits the following. 1. A project report (a maximum of 10 pages of written text and images, with written text not exceeding 4,000 words) plus a list of all sources used. 2. A video recording of the final piece (7–10 minutes maximum). |
External |
40% |
25% |
|
Solo theatre piece (HL only) Students at HL research a theatre theorist they have not previously studied, identify an aspect(s) of theory and create and present a solo theatre piece (lasting 4–7 minutes maximum) that demonstrates the practical application of this theory to a theatre piece for an audience. Each student submits the following. 1. A report (2,500 words maximum) plus a list of all primary and secondary sources cited. 2. A continuous unedited video recording of the whole solo theatre piece (4–7 minutes maximum). |
External |
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35% |
Theatre subject brief
Subject briefs are short documents providing an outline of the course. Read the standard level (SL) and/or higher level (HL) subject brief below.
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Latest curriculum updates
This subject is reviewed by the IB regularly to ensure the latest educational research is applied. Please keep up to date with the latest subject updates for Theatre.
