Devising Performance

In today's theatre industry, actors often do more than act.

They are often co-creators in the process of making original work for the stage. Performers also write, direct, or freely improvise to help create the world of the story.

Theatre can be highly visual, relying less on dialogue alone to tell the story.

The Devised Performance Task

In your group, you will interpret a given Myth story. You will create a 5-7 minute performance that must include the techniques we have explored in class:

Transformation of Character
Transformation of Place
Object Puppetry (transformation of object)
Figuration
Use of Sound (not recorded)
as well as AT LEAST ONE OF: tableaux, narration, breaking the 4th wall, disjointed time (jump to past or future).

Everyone in the group has to be onstage throughout the performance.

You may use any set items or costumes, but these will not be assessed. Therefore, you should only choose to use items that assist your performance, as you are assessed primarily on your use of expressive skills (movement, gesture, voice and facial expressions). In addition, remember that more neutral props lend themselves to transformation of object (eg. a piece of cloth can become water, blood, a baby, clothing).

A NOTE ON INTERPRETATION

You can choose how creative you want to be. You can re-tell the Myth in a quite straightforward way OR you could do a modern re-telling OR a clever combination of both.

If you do either of the second choices, you must be careful that you retain the original storyline and themes/message at the heart of your performance.

Y9 Performance Task Rubric.docx

SELECT ONE OF THE MYTHS BELOW:

Perseus and Medusa

(GREEK)

Orpheus and Eurydice

(GREEK)

King Midas

(GREEK)

Yi Shoots The Sun

(CHINESE)

Mulan

(CHINESE)

The Birth of Ganesh

(INDIAN)

Ananse the Spider

(AFRICAN)

Tiddalik the Frog

(AUSTRALIAN FIRST NATIONS)

HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR PERFORMANCE: A Step-by-step guide to devising.

1. Your group has agreed on which story to interpret. Now you need to dot point the most important points of action in the plot.

Use the template provided in your folder.

2. Consider how you can establish each new setting (both time and place) and show us the characters in addition to the key plot points.

eg. You might create a minute of sound and movement (using either a ''machine'' or moving tableaux) that happens as Perseus arrives at Medusa's cave. It is important not to rush these moments of establishing place and/or mood for the audience.

OR| You might have a sequence of repetitive movement/gestures at the start of King Midas to show a king who is greedy or bored with all the court can offer him, and always seeking more.

3. After all this brainstorming, you might like to storyboard, through drawing or writing, what will happen in each scene of your performance.

Always ask yourselves - what does the audience need to see next to understand the story or the character's journey?

4. If you haven't already - time to get up! IMPROVISE scene by scene. Try out ALL the ideas. Explore how to use the required techniques to enhance mood, story, character, as well as add symbolism or meaning.

5. Refine rehearse refine rehearse refine rehearse refine rehearse. Take turns being the ''outside eye'', or director, who is giving feedback as to what is clear and what needs polish. Problem solve, and be precise with every moment.

6. Pay attention to transitions. There should be no ''dead'' moments onstage. Sharp, clean, confident.

Playmaking Cycle.pdf

Examples of PROBLEMS that might need solving / FAQs

Q. We have more actors than there are characters in the story. Can X just be a tree?

A. Everyone needs to be a human/creature (alive!) at least once. You can add ''background" characters to help establish setting, eg. palace servants, villagers.

Also, at least one actor must play at least 2 different humans/creatures in order to demonstrate transformation of character.

Q. How do we show the Underworld/the sky/travel across the ocean?

A. Think visually. Consider how to use the concepts of ''machines'' or object puppetry to create an image. You could have the cast as clouds, and then as Perseus launchs up to fly the clouds move down (crouch) so that they are passing by under Perseus. SOUND EFFECTS ARE HELPFUL!

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