Study notes

A student:

• H3.2 analyses, synthesises and organises knowledge, information and opinion in coherent, informed oral and written responses.

Drama Stage 6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2009, p 22.

A student:

• H3.2 analyses, synthesises and organises knowledge, information and opinion in coherent, informed oral and written responses.

Drama Stage 6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2009, p 22.

Theoretical and experiential evidence – during our drama class, studying Neighbourhood Watch by Lally Katz was an important experience for me in exploring cross-cultural understanding and shared wisdom in a multicultural Australian society. Playing Ana, my objective was clear: get to the truth. When I confronted my peer, who was acting as Catherine, I delivered Ana's line, 'Don't lying me. I can no help you if you is lying me,' with Ana's scripted use of English, emphasising Ana's determination. My gestures were intense, pointing insistently, and my vocal tone was confrontational. Catherine's response, 'It's complicated,' was delivered hesitantly with a shrug, symbolising her uncertainty. The audience's laughter at Ana's grammar errors initially made me uncomfortable, but it added comedic tension, and I tried to play Ana as proud and knowledgeable, with fantastic posture, highlighting Ana's relentless pursuit of truth. To convey Ana's resilience, I focused on posture and eye contact, projecting confidence. Timing was key, ensuring Ana's revelations engaged the audience deeply. Our workshop incorporated improvisation to extend the physicalisation of the scene and give Ana more movement-based proxemics to help get the truth out of Catherine. We also used the convention of minimalist set design, enabling us to delve into characters and relationships. 

Experiential evidence – included above in the description of the class workshop, for example, 'My gestures were intense, pointing insistently'.

Conventions, techniques, forms, styles:

• Improvisation to extend silences through movement and proxemics

• Minimalist set design

• Time and symbol (elements of drama).

Impact on audience – I believe our performance altered the audience's perception of Ana. They began to see her as more than just an immigrant but as someone determined and strong-willed, sparking empathy for her experiences in Australia.

A student:

• H3.1 critically applies understanding of the cultural, historical and political contexts that have influenced specific drama and theatre practitioners, styles and movements

• H3.2 analyses, synthesises and organises knowledge, information and opinion in coherent, informed oral and written responses.

Drama Stage 6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2009, p 22.

Ideas and images – Ana’s stories, and the staging of them, bring history to life. The historical element of the story adds another layer to the narrative. The magical realism of Neighbourhood Watch serves to reveal the psychology of its characters – their shared trauma - Catherine’s grief and Ana’s losses, war and isolation. 

Theoretical evidence – the magical elements also allow the audience to experience the past that inhabits and influences the central characters’ lives in the present – to create an immersive, sensory experience for the audience, as well as a compelling narrative. Magical realism has the power to reflect lived experience from the internal world of its characters. 

Experiential evidence – 

Conventions, techniques, forms, styles:

Impact on audience – 

Ideas and images – In the play Neighbourhood Watch, the story is not bound by a conventional sense of time. Ana and Catherine move fluidly between time and space. Objects and characters have a transformational quality. This allows for a simultaneous exploration of historical and contemporary social and cultural issues around Ana and Catherine's identity and belonging in Australian society.

Theoretical evidence – The performance styles change abruptly, with a realistic scene suddenly interrupted by a change in setting, introduction of a character from the past, and/or a shift in atmosphere. 

Experiential evidence – 

Conventions, techniques, forms, styles:

• Neighbourhood Watch is, at times, Epic in scale and utilises Epic conventions such as transformational acting and non-linear structure. This hybridity of style is contemporary theatre practice in action.

Impact on audience –