This is the 2023/24 Annual Teaching Plan for Grade 10 Dramatic Arts. The year covers an introduction to drama, South African theatre, Greek theatre, non-verbal communication, medieval theatre, commedia dell'arte or Indian theatre, workshopped theatre and staging conventions, with a performance assessment task (PAT) in Terms 1 to 3.
Each term lists numbered topics with suggested hours. Every week teachers must teach at least two hours of practical work, two hours of theory and one hour of rehearsals after school.
Download the ATP
What the Dramatic Arts Grade 10 ATP covers
Term 1
- Baseline assessment
- Introduction to Dramatic Arts
- South African cultural performance or oral tradition
- Play text 1: South African theatre
- Scene study
- Rehearsing PAT 1 dramatic item
Formal assessment: Task 1: PAT 1 (journal and dramatic item 1). Task 2: control test (50 marks).
Term 2
- Origins of theatre and Greek theatre
- Play text 2: Greek theatre
- Choral verse, voice and body
- Non-verbal communication
- Text interpretation (individual performance)
- Rehearsing PAT 2 dramatic item
Formal assessment: Task 3: PAT 2 (research or essay and dramatic item 2). Tasks 4 and 5: mid-year written and performance examinations (100 marks each).
Term 3
- Medieval theatre, commedia dell'arte or Indian theatre
- Play text 3
- South African workshopped theatre
- Workshopping and creating a short play
- Rehearsing PAT 3 dramatic item
Formal assessment: Task 6: PAT 3 (research or essay and dramatic item 3). Task 7: control test (50 marks).
Term 4
- Staging or film conventions
- Preparing an integrated performance of three items
- Revision of theory
- Revision of performance skills
Formal assessment: Tasks 8 and 9: end-of-year written and performance examinations (150 marks each).
Source: Department of Basic Education, 2023/24 Annual Teaching Plans. DBE Circular S19 of 2025 keeps the 2023/24 ATPs in use, with some exclusions, so check with your school or district for any changes.