Higher Drama

Higher Drama provides exciting opportunities to learn skills in staging and analysing dramatic texts; exploring voice, movement and characterisation. Set assignments will take the form of learning lines, scripting a scene, researching key topics, planning a rehearsal and writing a review. Students will study Acting.

Final assessments are divided into a practical exam hosted with us in the OneTouch Theatre, demonstration of your skills in acting, and a written exam at your school involving the analysis of our chosen text and productions seen during the course.

The course prepares you for further education and a potential career in theatre. It will deepen your knowledge, understanding and skills in theatre.

For me, the most impactful benefit of studying at Eden Court was the sense of respect and professionalism I gained at sixteen from studying in a working theatre every week - it felt like my first step into the professional theatre world. It was a commitment that required focus and energy but, being outwith school, I felt empowered with a sense of agency.

Megan Lovat, Actor

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  • Students must be well-motivated and able to commit to attendance at all sessions in Inverness on the agreed dates, including intensive blocks during school holidays.
  • You must have completed your fourth year of secondary school and passed National 5 English by the time you start this course.
  • Some performance experience is desirable, but students do not need to have taken National 5 Drama to apply. Although you don’t have to pursue a career in performance to enjoy the course, a real interest in theatre is essential.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment for this course is in two parts:

Performance: The performance allows candidates to draw on, extend and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding they have learned during the course. The performance assesses candidates’ preparation and performance of a two textual extracts from a full-length play that is different from the one studied for the written exam. You will also have to write a Preparation for Performance that explains your acting process. (60% of final mark).

Written Paper: A 2 hour written exam in two sections. In section one, candidates must write about a selected text (from a prescribed list) and answer one extended response question from a choice of six, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, contextual analysis and performance concepts which show how the text could be communicated to an audience through performance. In section two, candidates answer one extended-response question from a choice of two on, a performance they have seen. The focus of the questions requires candidates to respond on a minimum of two of the following production areas: choice and use of the performance space, director’s intentions and effectiveness, acting and development of characters, design concepts and their effectiveness (40% of final mark).

WEBINAR

We are hosting a webinar on Fri 30 Jan 2026, from 5.30 – 6pm, where you can find out more about this course and ask any questions you might have. If you would like to attend, you can sign up here.

APPLICATIONS

Applications will open from Mon 12 Jan 2026 and close on Sun 15 Mar 2026. Drama auditions will take place on Sat 4 Apr 2026.

APPLY NOW

Download

For more information, please contact our Engagement Programme Co-ordinator Morag Russell. Our SQA Co-ordinator is Louise Marshall.

Bursaries to support travel costs are available for those that need it. Information on how to claim will be provided at the start of the course.