OCR GCSE Drama

Requirements of individual plays In addition to knowing the plot of your set play, you must be aware of the particular demands the piece makes on the actors, designers and director. A verbatim play , such as Missing Dan Nolan , gives voice to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, a subject which, as an actor, director or designer, you must find a way of conveying sensitively. Every play has a context , including when it is set and when it was written. If a play is rooted in a particular historical context, such as Kindertransport , which moves between two distinct and different time periods, you must consider the choices to be made in order to clarify these shifting time periods for your audience. You might also need to consider the social context of the play, such as attitudes towards mental health, as seen in Find Me , or the effects of unemployment as portrayed in Blood Brothers . You should also consider the performance style of the play. Death of a Salesman is usually performed in a naturalistic style, whereas Gizmo , with its demanding physicality, is more stylised. Some plays combine styles. Kindertransport , for example, is largely naturalistic, but has stylised sequences involving the Ratcatcher. As you work on the play, be aware of whether you would be creating a piece of drama that is realistic and lifelike or if the play requires a heightened, theatrical effect. Given the style of the play, you may use certain performance conventions , such as mime , narration or audience interaction. Ideally, the acting, design and direction will all work towards a unified performance style. A With a partner, discuss the style of the play you are studying and decide whether it is naturalistic, stylised (or ‘non-naturalistic’) or a combination of the two. Describe at least three moments from the play to support your point of view. (These moments might include dialogue and/or stage directions.) B Describe how you think those three moments should be performed, directed or designed. Justify your choices through brief explanation of your artistic ideas and reference to the meanings, themes, form and/or style of the text. Performing a text Acting choices: physical skills From the moment an actor walks on stage, the audience begins interpreting their character. The audience will note their physical characteristics such as their build and age, and form assumptions about the character. In order to develop their characterisation, an actor will use their physical and vocal skills to add to these initial impressions. Their choices should help the audience to understand and engage with the character’s role within the play. Typical physical skills an actor uses when interpreting a character include: TASK 2.1 Verbatim play/theatre: A type of documentary theatre that uses the words of real people. Context: The circumstances of the setting of a play, such as the location, period of time or conventions. Performance style: The way in which something is performed, such as naturalistically or stylised. Performance conventions: Theatrical techniques used in particular types of performance, such as speaking directly to the audience (direct address) or miming the use of props rather than having them on stage. Mime: To act without words. This might involve using gestures or movements to express emotions or creating a scene to suggest the presence of props or other physical items when none are present, such as ‘pretending’ to open a door. Narration: A commentary or background to a play or other story. KEY TERmS: Learners must know and understand: In relation to their performance text: • How meaning is communicated through: • The use of performance space and spatial relationships on stage • The relationship between performers and audience • The design of: set, props, costume, lighting and sound • An actor’s vocal and physical interpretation of character • The use of performance conventions. WHAT THE SPECIFICATION SAYS… Ways of moving Gestures Posture Facial expressions 17 PERFORmING A TEXT