Welcome to Drama in Year 9. In this unit you will explore:
How Drama skills and methods can support your learning and increase life skills such as communication, creativity, collaboration and confidence.
A brief history of the world of the theatre, and basic theatrical terminology..
How to use the expressive skills of VOICE, MOVEMENT, GESTURE and FACIAL EXPRESSIONS to effectively communicate character and story to an audience.
How to analyse a theatre performance using drama terminology and how to give constructive peer feedback.
What it takes to be an effective improviser (on stage and in life).
How to devise a piece of theatre from a stimulus.
1. EXPRESSIVE SKILLS PERFORMANCE
You will create a devised performance in a group, in which you will need to demonstrate your use of expressive skills - facial expressions, movement and gesture - to portray a character.
Your story must include the following: A teenager, a neighbour, a lazy dog, a fat cat, annoying parent, a tragic ending. Follow the usual good storytelling rules - have a clear beginning, middle and end. Extension: you could include a flashback or other break in linear storytelling.
Your performance must demonstrate understanding and application of the following drama techniques: tableaux (freeze frame), consideration of STATUS, RELATIONSHIP and CONFLICT, use of SPACE to reveal where everything takes place (setting).
Please note that students are individually assessed.
2. DESIGN FOR THE STAGE
You will research and plan a costume and/or prop design for a classical Commedia Dell'arte character.
Your designs must be both functional for what the actor needs to do, and expressive of their personality traits.
You will consider the creative choices of a design, including shape, colour, texture and size, as well as budgeting for creation of a design.
3. DEVISED PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
Requirements of the task:
Active and effective collaboration to devise a piece of theatre in response to a given stimulus.
Individual development of expressive skills to play a character(s).
Criteria:
Participation and contribution to all stages of the rehearsal process.
Execution of expressive skills in performance.
Focus and energy in performance.
Incorporation of required theatre conventions and techniques to enhance storytelling.