Lesson 5:

Language, Sound and Movement

Write the heading 'Language, Sound and Movement' into your digital logbook.

READ

Language, sound and movement are three elements of drama that are often considered in realtion to each other when creating a certain atmosphere on stage. Watch the clip (right) and engage in a class discussion about how these three elements have been used and what atmosphere it creates.

Record your thoughts under the heading in your digital logbook.

DV8 Physical Theatre _ Can We Talk About This_ _ Ann Cryer.mp4

Warm-Up: The Zoo Game

To begin this warm-up you will be asked to select a zoo animal and a short gesture to represent that animal (for example beating fists on the chest for a gorilla, raising one arm in the air for an elephant trunk or making a slithering arm movement for a snake). When everyone has chosen an animal, the group starts a rhythm with two slaps on the thighs and a hand clap. It should sound like the beginning of We Will Rock You by Queen. When the rhythm is established, the first person starts by slapping their thighs twice then making their own animal gesture instead of the clap. They repeat this but the second time they make someone else’s gesture instead of the handclap. This passes the focus to that person who has to make their gesture followed by someone else’s. Everybody else keeps the slapping and clapping rhythm going while the animal gestures are travelling around. If the rhythm gets too fast or someone goes wrong, start again.

For example:

Elephant: Slap-Slap (elephant gesture)

Slap-Slap (crocodile gesture)

Crocodile: Slap-Slap (crocodile gesture)

Slap-Slap (snake gesture)

Snake: Slap-Slap (snake gesture)

Slap-Slap (lion gesture)

Performance Activity

You will engage in the following three step process to create a performance that will explore the use of language, sound and movement.

Step 1

In groups of 3-4, create a short scene (approximately 1 minute) based on the scenario of a small group of teenagers exploring a haunted house. In this performance you will not be allowed to use any dialogue or other sound effects but must convey the scene to the audience just through movement. Each group will then perform and discussion will be held around what clues we can get from just the movement on stage and what things we need to remember as an actor to ensure our movement is appropriate and effective.

Step 2

Each group will then be given a few moments to rehearse the scene again, but this time you will include dialogue and any sound effects you can create though your voice, body and props on stage. Again this will be performed and discussion will be held around how language can enhance the understanding of the audience.

Step 3

Each group with then rehearse a third time, but this time you will choose one of the pieces of music supplied (click on the links below) that best suits the atmosphere you are trying to create in your performance. Each group performs and discussion is held around what effect adding music to performance has and how the three components of language, sound and movement work together.

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