Theatre Studies - Post GCSE

Theatre Studies Post GCSE Work

For our usual induction process, we always look at the performance style of Commedia dell’Arte as this is the original context surrounding one of our set plays, A Servant To Two Masters.

Commedia originated in Italy in the 16th century was popular to both the aristocracy and the poor as recognisable stock characters were infused with improvised stories and moments. Commedia performers were seen as the first professional actors!

Watch the following clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTs9xWJcgg

This is based on the language of ‘Gromalot’. It allowed Commedia dell’Arte players to break the language barrier as they travelled and performed across Europe.

Try and write a short monologue based on your time in lockdown. Initial thoughts and potential concerns? Highlights? First time moments? Family/friend zoom calls? Seeing people outside in parks or gardens more recently? Hope on the horizon?

Read that monologue out loud with a particular intention – an emotive response? Comic? Poetic reading that details your journey through lockdown? Consider the vocal variety you’ll need throughout to maintain audience interest – change of pace, pause, tone, pitch, volume etc.

Once you feel that you have achieved that intention. Try it again through Gromalot. Take the nuances of your vocal delivery and put that into complete gobbledygook. The original intention should stay the same and your use of pace, pause, tone, pitch and volume should be consistent. It is only the words that should change to nonsense.

This will be hard as we are so dependent on our use of language to communicate. Remember – this is a physical style of theatre, it was the physical skill set that communicate more than the language. Remember 93% of what we communicate is through body language!

If you feel comfortable doing so, perform your monologue to a family member with the title “My Lockdown”. Did they see the change of experience throughout? Could they understand what you were trying to communicate.

There are plenty more clips on Commedia dell’Arte by the National Theatre on Youtube – they are fantastic.

Also, if you have access to “One Man Two Guvnors” on the National Theatre collection, watch it! It is the contemporary version of the play that we study. It stars James Corden as Francis Henshall, the man with two guvnors.