DRAMA PROCESS
For section 1, you can write about ANY PIECE OF DRAMA YOU’VE WORKED ON THIS YEAR. This can include the FINAL EXAM PIECE.
You will need to consider the drama process for SECTION 2 of the exam when you will have to make notes and answer questions on an imagined devised piece of drama, and also for SECTION 1 where you had to apply many of the above to your practical exam piece.
CONVENTIONS
You could be asked a conventions question in section 1 and/or section 2.
In section 1 you could be asked what conventions you used in your drama and why you used them. You would state what convention you used, how you used it and why you used it (what effect were you looking for).
In section 2 you could be asked what conventions you would use in your drama and why.
Example:
Name two conventions you would use in your drama and, for each one, explain the advantage of using it.
PURPOSE
Think about the purpose or message of your Drama. How will the plot and setting help communicate this purpose or message? (6 marks)
• Note the word “or” – this means write about one or the other. Although purpose and message are connected – there is a difference. For example, the message could be that “drugs are dangerous” so the purpose would be “to educate.”
TARGET AUDIENCE
Who would you consider to be an appropriate target audience for your drama? Give a reason for your answer.
EXAMPLE: The appropriate target audience for my drama would be teenagers aged between 17-19. This is the age bracket where most young people will learn how to drive. The drama will therefore be easily relatable to them and will enable them to be educated on important issues.
FORM, GENRE and STYLE
It is important that you do consider drama form, genre and style because you could be asked a question on it. When devising your next piece of drama in class, or when you move on to your acting pieces – take time to consider and think about these aspects.
EXAMPLE:
• What form would your drama take?
• Explain in detail the drama which the audience would see. In your answer you may include form, conventions used, genre and style of the piece.
KEY MOMENTS
You might be asked about Key Moments in your drama. These could be any of the following:
· The opening of the drama
· The end of the drama
· A turning point
· The climax (peak) of the drama
· The most important or significant moment
What is a key moment?
· One of the most important parts of the drama.
· 10-30 seconds (NOT a section of dialogue).
· You must justify your answer. Why is it important?
· Build up of tension.
*Please note that there has to be a build up of tension before the turning point/key moment/climax. You need to be prepared to justify any moment that you asked.
Think about the AUDIENCE RESPONSE to the key moment:
· How does it make them feel?
· What do they learn from it?
· Have they developed a feeling regarding a theme or message?
· Purpose – does it introduce or develop characters?
You need to be ready to explain how these moments or desired impact on audience could be shown by actors or any member of the technical team (lighting, set, etc.)
MOVEMENT QUESTIONS
When you are asked a specific question on movement – you must remember to use correct terminology listed above to gain marks.
Example Past Paper questions:
As a director, in what ways would you direct the actors to use their voice and movement to help highlight this key moment?
Describe how these two characters would show their difference in status through their use of movement.
VOICE QUESTIONS
Just as with movement, when you are asked a specific question on voice – you must use correct voice terminology to gain marks.
Example Past Paper questions:
As a director, in what ways would you direct the actors to use their voice and movement to help highlight this key moment?
Describe how these two characters would show their difference in status through their use of voice.
PRODUCTION AREAS
· Make sure that you are aware of all the different areas of production. Be aware of why we use each one in performance – what advantages they bring, how they help create mood and atmosphere, how they help emphasise a key moment, etc.
· Be sure to know the appropriate vocabulary to describe each production area. E.g for lighting – blackout, fade-up, profile spot, gel, etc. The vocabulary can be found in the TERMINOLOGY SECTION of this website.
WRITING ABOUT REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES
It is important that you are able to fully describe how a rehearsal activity/characterisation technique has helped you to build your character.
Example:
Think of your production role and the responsibilities associated with that role. Describe the practical activities you did to prepare this drama for presentation. (2 marks)
Describe two rehearsal activities which would help make this moment effective. Justify your answer. (4 marks)
WRITING ABOUT PRODUCTION SKILLS
When discussing production areas – remember to use correct terminology.
For example, when discussing lighting consider and use the following:
· % brightness
· Use of gels? What colour?
· Fade up/down
· Profile Spotlight/ Flood
· Wash (general coverage of light)
When discussing sound consider and use the following:
· What volume
· What moment
· Snap on/off
WRITING ABOUT MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE
It is possible that you could be asked to
1 – State the mood and atmosphere of your drama and then
2 – Explain how actors and/or members of the design/production team help to highlight this mood and atmosphere.
You should ensure to include in your answer for this type of question the following:
· Voice changes
· Movement changes
· Stage positioning
VENUE
Remember that there is a difference between staging and venue.
Venue refers to the type of theatre building that you would choose to present your drama. Venue does not mean type of staging, so if you were asked a question about venue, you should NOT write “End on” or “Theatre in the Round etc. (Although the type of staging within the theatre building would come into consideration.)
If you are asked a question about venue, it is best to be very specific and identify a theatre. E.g. Eden Court Theatre or The Auditorium.
You should explain why you chose that venue. Eg. Because it has a very large stage which could accommodate all of the actors in the large cast of the play or Because the small stage allows for a more intimate experience for the audience, who would benefit from being close to the action in this intense piece of drama.
STAGING
Remember the different types of staging you have used in your work or that you could suggest using in your imagined piece. These include:
End On
(as used in DNA)
In the Round
(the audience are seated all around the stage)
Avenue
(the audience are seated either side of the stage)
Proscenium Arch
(a traditional theatre where the stage is through an arch)
Promenade
(the audience walk around and see the action in different locations)
Thrust Staging
(The audience are positioned on three sides of a thrust stage. This allows the audience to see different angles to a performance)
You should know what type of staging you wish to use when creating a drama and be able to give reasons for your choice.
AREAS OF THE STAGE
When you are asked about Performance Concepts – include areas of the stage!
• Describing how your character(s) is positioned onstage can help you further emphasise points about movement.
Remember that the areas of the stage are from the actors point of view:
Up Stage RIGHT (USR) Up Stage CENTRE (USC) Up Stage LEFT (USL)
Centre Stage RIGHT (CSR) CENTRE STAGE (CS) CENTRE STAGE LEFT (CSL)
Down Stage RIGHT (DSR) Down Stage CENTRE (DSC) Down STAGE LEFT (DSL)