Preparatory work

ACTIVITY 1- BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

All students should purchase a copy of CGP’s GCSE Drama revision guide (ISBN 9781782949626). If you have completed a GCSE Drama course, then please revise notes on the design elements to ensure you recap your knowledge of this, ready for September.  If you have not studied GCSE Drama it is vital to study this guide and cover tasks below in order to fill in the gaps in your knowledge before you begin studying Drama at A level. Please read the notes on the following in the guide and complete questions at the back of each section:

SECTION 1- BASICS

• Theatre and context (pages 4 & 5)

• Style (pages 12-14)

• Staging & positioning (pages 16-18)

Complete questions on page 19 on above topics 

SECTION 2- PERFORMANCE

• Characterisation, movement and vocal skills (pages 20-30)

Complete questions on page 31 on above topics 

SECTION 3- DESIGN CONVENTIONS

• Set, Lighting, Sound, Costume (pages 32-39

Complete questions on page 41 on above topics 

ACTIVITY 2 - PRACTITIONER & THEATRE COMPANY RESEARCH PRESENTATION

Choose one from the following list of Theatre Practitioners (you could research a little on each and then opt for one to focus on in more detail):

• Artaud

• Berkoff 

• Brecht  

• Stanislavski

Secondly, choose one contemporary theatre company that interests you from the following list: 

• Kneehigh Theatre Company

• Frantic Assembly Theatre Company

• Complicite 

Use your research on your chosen practitioner and theatre company to create a presentation, which you will present to the rest of the class in September. It is one presentation on both the practitioner and theatre company, which should be a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes in length. Guidance for what to include: 

• The social, historical and political contexts that shaped the theatre practice of the practitioner / theatre company

• For Practitioner: their own life and how this influenced their work 

• The ideas, theatrical practice, purpose and methodologies underpinning their work

• Their use of theatrical style and conventions

• Collaboration with and influence on other practitioners

• Notable plays or productions

Try to make your presentation engaging- think about how you are presenting your knowledge to us. 

ACTIVITY 3- LIVE THEATRE ANALYSIS ESSAY

Watch a live theatre  (ideally professional performance) in person over the summer. Then write a formal essay evaluation of approximately 1000 words in response to the following question:   

Q. Analyse and evaluate an online performance you have seen in light of the following statement:

‘Theatre in the 21st Century is out of touch with its audience’

In your essay you should refer to key moments from the production, and consider the performers, director and designers approaches in your response.   

Guidance on essay writing:   Do you agree or disagree with the statement in light of the production you have seen? This should be the focus of your essay. 

Watch carefully and pick out key moments that were effective in the performance. Try to analyse why these key moments were effective and write about them. Consider: effective acting- was it that the actors vocal or movement choices were effective? Did they evoke sympathy or perhaps create comedy? Did the costume reflect their character? Was the set of the production minimal or detailed? What colours/ textures are used? Did the choice of sound or lighting support the key moment ? how?

Guidance on productions to view: If you are unable to see a live production,  there are a range of free productions to view online.  If you are still unable to find a production, please email the Head of Drama who will be able to advise.  

Resources to obtain

Play text/ books to be purchased: 

‘Machinal’ by Sophie Treadwell (ISBN: 978-1-85459-211-8)

‘Stanislavski: an introduction’ by Jean Benedetti (ISBN: 978-1-4081-0683-9)

Optional student textbooks that complement course of study: 

Rhinegold’s ‘Edexcel AS & A Level Drama Study Guide’ 

Pearson’s ‘Edexcel A Level Drama and Theatre Student Book’