Theatre is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, risk-taking and the presentation of ideas. The IB DP theatre course is multifaceted and gives students the opportunity to actively engage in theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes working both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. The teacher’s role is to create opportunities that allow students to explore, learn, discover and collaborate to become autonomous, informed and skilled theatre-makers.

Students learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. Through researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre, they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world. Students experience the course from contrasting artistic and cultural perspectives. They learn about theatre from around the world, the importance of making theatre with integrity, and the impact that theatre can have on the world. It enables them to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture, promoting international-mindedness and an appreciation of the diversity of theatre.

The aims of all DP arts subjects are to enable students to:

1. enjoy lifelong engagement with the arts
2. become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in the arts
3. understand the dynamic and changing nature of the arts
4. explore and value the  diversity of the arts across time, place and cultures
5. express ideas with confidence and competence
6. develop perceptual and analytical skills.

In addition, the aims of the SL theatre course are to enable students to:

7. explore theatre in a variety of contexts and understand how these contexts inform practice (theatre in context)
8. understand and engage in the processes of transforming ideas into action (theatre processes)
9. develop ply theatre production, presentation and performance skills, working both independently and collaboratively (presenting theatre)