THEATRE STUDIES

UNIT 1

Pre-modern theatre styles and conventions

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the pre-modern era, that is, works prior to the 1920s. Students creatively and imaginatively work in production roles with scripts from the pre-modern era of theatre, focusing on at least three distinct theatre styles and their conventions. They study innovations in theatre production in the pre-modern era and apply this knowledge to their own works. Students develop knowledge and skills about theatre production processes including dramaturgy, planning, development and performance to an audience and apply this to their work.


OUTCOMES

  1. On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and describe the distinguishing features of pre-modern theatre playscripts.
  2. On completion of this unit the student should be able to work creatively and imaginatively in production roles.
  3. On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse a performance of a playscript.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Performance Analysis
  • Participation and Analysis of Group Work
  • Folio showing 3 styles of pre-modern theatre and research tasks


UNIT 2

Modern theatre styles and conventions

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the modern era, that is, the 1920s to the present. Students creatively and imaginatively work in production roles with scripts from the modern era of theatre, focusing on at least three distinct theatre styles. They study innovations in theatre production in the modern era and apply this knowledge to their own works. Students develop knowledge and skills about theatre production processes including dramaturgy, planning, development and performance to an audience and apply this to their work. They study safe and ethical working practices in theatre production and develop skills of performance analysis, which they apply to the analysis of a play in performance.


OUTCOMES

  1. On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and describe the distinguishing features of modern era theatre playscripts.
  2. On completion of this unit the student should be able to work creatively and imaginatively in production roles.
  3. On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate stagecraft in a performance of a playscript.


ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Performance Analysis
  • Participation and Analysis of Group Work
  • Presentation and Interpretation of a Theatrical Scene


UNIT 3

Producing theatre

In this unit students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation. Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script. They use knowledge developed during this process to analyse and evaluate the ways work in production roles can be used to interpret script excerpts previously unstudied. Students develop knowledge and apply elements of theatre composition, and safe and ethical working practices in the theatre. Students attend a performance selected from the prescribed VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 Playlist and analyse and evaluate the interpretation of the script in the performance. The Playlist is published annually on the VCAA website.


OUTCOMES

  1. On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles.
  2. “On completion of this unit the student should be able to outline concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and explain how these could be realised in a theatre production
  3. On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate the creative and imaginative interpretation of a written script in production to an audience.


ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Ongoing developmental contributions to creative interpretation of a script across all three stages of the production process through collaborative work in two production roles. AND Task 2 Analysis and evaluation, supported by relevant documentation, of ongoing developmental contributions across all three stages of the production process.
  • Documentation that outlines the concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and provides an explanation of how these could be realised in a theatre production
  • An analysis and evaluation of a creative and imaginative interpretation of a prescribed scrip



UNIT 4

Performance interpretation

In this unit students study a scene and associated monologue from the Theatre Studies Performance Examination (monologue list) published annually by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and develop a theatrical brief that includes the creation of a character by an actor, stagecraft possibilities, and appropriate research. Students interpret a monologue from within a specified scene through acting and other appropriate areas of stagecraft. Students attend a performance selected from the prescribed Theatre Studies Unit 4 Playlist published annually in the VCAA Bulletin and analyse and evaluate acting in the production.


OUTCOMES

  1. On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and justify a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
  2. On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret and present a monologue and orally justify and explain their interpretive decisions.
  3. On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate acting, direction and design in a production.


ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • A written report that describes and justifies dramaturgical decisions for a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
  • An oral presentation about the possibilities, intentions and vision for an interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene, including responding to question/s.
  • An analysis and evaluation of acting, direction and design and their interrelationship in a production from the prescribed playlist.