Welcome to Birkenhead Academy Sixth Form

Theatre Studies

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Practitioners:

Here is a list of some key theatre practitioners used by our top scoring A level students in their practical work recently:

Stephen Berkoff

Artaud

Bertolt Brecht

Complicité

Frantic Assembly

Katie Mitchell

Konstantin Stanislavski

Please choose one of these practitioners:

How to make your factsheet:

1.You are to produce a double-sided A4 factsheet about a practitioner of your choice from our list.

2.Your factsheet should include key facts about the practitioner / company and their style with a focus on a range of productions made by them

3.Create the factsheet digitally so it can be uploaded.

Use the internet for information (e.g. company website, theatre reviews, clips, trailers, etc.)

Here are some helpful questions to guide you, but focus on elements of the company that excite you:

• When, where and why did they begin making theatre?

• What are their main artistic/political ideals?

• How would you describe the theatrical style?

• Is their approach/style innovative? If so, how?

• Can you find any useful quotes by this practitioner to explain their thinking?

• Find three examples of their productions and embed at least one photograph from each that shows a 'fingerprint' of the practitioner style. Explain VERY briefly what these images show.

• What can you find out about the rehearsal process of your chosen practitioner?

• What do you find most intriguing and exciting about this practitioner?

Read 'That Face' by Polly Stenham. This will be the set text that we will be studying.

Read and research the play 'Woyzeck' by Georg Buchner.

"The Empty Space" by Peter Brook: A classic and accessible book exploring different types of theatre. Great for expanding understanding beyond school productions.

"An Actor Prepares" by Constantin Stanislavski: Foundational for understanding naturalistic acting techniques, a core component of many A-Level courses.

Podcasts 🎧

"National Theatre Talks": Features interviews with actors, directors, and playwrights, offering insights into professional theatre-making and specific productions.
"The Stage" Podcast (or similar industry news podcasts): Keeps students updated on current theatre news, trends, and reviews, fostering a broader understanding of the contemporary theatre landscape.
"In Our Time: Culture" (BBC Radio 4 - search archive for theatre topics): Offers academic discussions on various cultural topics, including specific plays, playwrights, or theatre movements, often featuring expert insights.
Podcasts focusing on specific playwrights or practitioners: Search for podcasts dedicated to figures like Shakespeare, Brecht, or Stanislavski to deepen understanding.