Theatre Studies
OVERVIEW
In VCE Theatre Studies students interpret scripts from the pre-modern era to the present day and produce theatre for audiences. Through practical and theoretical engagement with scripts they gain an insight into the origins and development of theatre and the influences of theatre on cultures and societies. Students apply dramaturgy and work in the production roles of actor, director and designer (set, makeup, props, costume, lighting, sound), developing an understanding and appreciation of the role and place of theatre practitioners.
Throughout the study, students work individually and collaboratively in various production roles to creatively and imaginatively interpret scripts and to plan, develop and present productions. Students study the contexts – the times, places and cultures – of these scripts, as well as their language. They experiment with different possibilities for interpreting scripts and apply ideas and concepts in performance to an audience. They examine ways that meaning can be constructed and conveyed through theatre performance. Students consider their audiences and in their interpretations incorporate knowledge and understanding of audience culture, demographic and sensibilities.
Students learn about innovations in theatre production across different times and places and apply this knowledge to their work. Through the study of plays and theatre styles, and by working in production roles to interpret scripts, students develop knowledge and understanding of theatre, its conventions and the elements of theatre composition.
Students analyse and evaluate the production of professional theatre performances and consider the relationship to their own theatre production work. Students learn about and demonstrate an understanding of safe, ethical, and responsible personal and interpersonal practices in theatre production.
Units 1-2
Theatre as a form of cultural expression has been made and performed for audiences from the earliest times and is an integral part of all cultures.
Theatre is ever evolving and exists as entertainment, education, ritual, an agent for change, a representation of values and a window on society.
Theatre practice has developed and has influenced cultures over many centuries through a wide variety of productions in diverse spaces and venues for a range of audiences.
Through the study of VCE Theatre Studies students develop, refine and enhance their analytical, evaluative and critical thinking skills as well as their expression, problem-solving, collaborative and communication skills.
They work both individually and in collaboration with others to interpret scripts.
UNIT 1
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 begin to develop skills of performance analysis and apply these to the analysis of a play in performance.
Theatre styles from the pre-modern era of theatre include Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Liturgical drama such as morality/miracle/mystery plays, Commedia dell’Arte, Elizabethan, Restoration comedies and dramas, Neo-classical, Naturalism/Realism, Beijing Opera, Noh, Bunraku and Kabuki and other traditional indigenous theatre forms
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Study at least three distinct theatre styles from the pre-modern era and the conventions and scripts associated with each.
Study innovations in theatre production in the pre-modern era.
Learn about contexts, cultural origins, production roles and performance possibilities for each of the selected theatre styles.
Practical Workshops
Students study and apply relevant conventions and consider how work in production roles is informed by different theatre styles and contexts.
Learn about processes for developing characters and consider the influence of the audience on work in production roles to enhance text interpretation.
KEY SKILLS REQUIRED
Interest in and ability to explore the theatrical potential of scripts and texts.
Organisation.
Ability to perform in front of an audience.
Ability to maintain a workbook.
Research.
Collaborate cooperatively in small groups.
An ability to analyse and evaluate performances of others.
ASSESSED TASKS
Oral Presentation on a particular style of the pre-modern era, including a timeline of major developments.
Work creatively and imaginatively in at least two production roles to interpret scripts from three or more distinct theatre styles of the pre-modern era. performance and create work relevant to your selected production roles.
An analysis of an external performance.
UNIT 2
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.
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.
Theatre styles from the modern era of theatre include Epic theatre, Constructivist theatre, Theatre of the Absurd, Political theatre, Feminist theatre, Expressionism, Eclectic theatre, Experimental theatre, Musical theatre, Physical theatre, Verbatim theatre, Theatre-in-education, and Immersive/Interactive theatre.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Study scripts from the modern era of theatre and investigate innovations in theatre practice from the 1920s to the present.
Study at least three distinct theatre styles of the modern era, as well as scripts associated with each.
Practical workshops.
Learn how work in production roles is informed by and contributes to the development of different theatre styles, and consider ways that theatre production work is itself shaped by the styles and contexts of the scripts.
Learn about theatre production processes including dramaturgy, planning, development and performance to an audience, and apply this to their work.
Study and apply elements of theatre composition and safe and ethical working practices in theatre production.
KEY SKILLS REQUIRED
Interest in and ability to explore the theatrical potential of scripts and texts.
Organisation.
Ability to perform in front of an audience.
Ability to maintain a workbook.
Research.
Collaborate cooperatively in small groups.
An ability to analyse and evaluate performances of others.
ASSESSED TASKS
A documentary-style performance that incorporates a range of techniques and conventions of a theatre style.
Students read a play and as a class they select one excerpt for rehearsal. Working as an ensemble, they apply a range of production areas, choosing two different elements of theatrical composition to apply to the extract. These may include:
Acting: develop characterisation based on a specific acting technique of the modern era.
Direction: develop a specific interpretation that reflects contemporary values.
Costume: research the fashion of the period; find costumes or adapt existing ones for the performance.
Lighting: discuss the mood of the scene with the director. Read the script to establish the time of day in which the scene takes place. Design appropriate lighting to suit the three scenes.
Make-up: research the style of make-up that was fashionable in the time period and experiment with the application of make-up to the actors.
Props: make a list of props required by the actors; find or make the props and draw up a props schedule indicating where they will be placed at the start of the performance.
Set: interpret the playwright’s directions as indicated in the play by creating set designs and making or finding set pieces.
Sound: discuss the mood of the scene with the director. Design an appropriate sound bedding to suit the three scenes.
A report that analyses and evaluates the application of production areas in a play from the modern era.
Units 3-4
The study of theatre, in all its various forms, prepares students for further study in theatre production, theatre history, communication, writing, acting, direction and design at tertiary level.
VCE Theatre Studies also prepares students for further learning in vocational educational training settings or for industry or community-related pathways.
UNIT 3
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.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Focus on developing skills that can be applied to the interpretation of a script for performance to an audience.
Work collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to contribute to the development of a production of a selected script.
Undertake exercises and tasks throughout the three stages of the production process and apply elements of theatre composition leading to a performance to an audience of the selected script.
Develop skills that contribute to the theatre production process, including thinking creatively and imaginatively, working collaboratively, time management, planning, scheduling and reflecting.
Analyse and evaluate the relationship between the written script and its interpretation on stage.
Evaluate the ways theatre practitioners, such as the director, actors, designers, or a dramaturg, have contributed to the interpretation on stage.
KEY SKILLS REQUIRED
Interest in and ability to explore the theatrical potential of scripts and texts.
Organisation.
Ability to perform in front of an audience.
Ability to maintain a workbook.
Research.
Collaborate cooperatively in small groups.
An ability to analyse and evaluate performances of others.
ASSESSED TASKS
A visual diary the shows ongoing developmental contributions to creative interpretation of a script across all three stages of the production process through collaborative work in two production roles.
A written analysis and evaluation, supported by relevant documentation, of ongoing developmental contributions across all three stages of the production process.
A SAC 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.
A written analysis and evaluation of a creative and imaginative interpretation of a prescribed script
UNIT 4
In this unit students study a scene and an associated monologue.
They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process.
Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.
Students’ work for Areas of Study 1 and 2 is supported through analysis of a performance they attend.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Document and report on dramaturgical decisions that could inform a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
Outline an interpretation of the scene, focusing on the ways in which the scene could be approached as a piece of theatre, including its place within the script, its specific structure, its characters, its themes, its images and ideas, its possibilities and its theatre styles.
Identify issues relating to safe and ethical theatre practices that they will need to apply in their work to realise their proposed interpretation.
Interpretation of a monologue from a scene contained within a script selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination.
Apply selected production roles and develop an interpretation of the monologue that is informed by a study of the prescribed scene and the complete script and dramaturgy, including the contexts of the play.
KEY SKILLS REQUIRED
The ability to create and perform as a character confidently as a solo performer in front of an audience.
An ability to analyse and evaluate performance work of both self and others verbally and in writing.
To learn and use the key language and terminology of drama.
An ability to meet deadlines within a production schedule.
The ability to study and prepare for a written exam based on the Outcomes from Units 3 and 4.
ASSESSED 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.
Monologue examination.
Description: Students will interpret a monologue from a scene in a play and explain their interpretive decisions. The monologue will be selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination set annually by the VCAA. A panel appointed by the VCAA will set the examination.
An end of year written examination.
VCAA ASSESSMENT
The overall Study Score will consist of:
School Assessed Coursework (45%),
9 minute monologue performance examination in October (25%),
1 ½ hour written examination in November (30%).