Unit 3: Ensemble performance
AREA OF STUDY 1
Creating and presenting ensemble performance
Outcome 1
Develop and present character/s within a non-naturalistic ensemble performance.
Development
Play-making techniques used to develop the ensemble: (including use of stimulus material,
research, improvisation, role-play, scripting, editing, rehearsing, refining and reflecting and
others as appropriate)
Documentation of the processes and key stages that contributed to the construction of the
ensemble performance:
Style/s and conventions/techniques
Description of non-naturalistic performance styles used in the ensemble: (styles that are not
dependent on the lifelike representation of everyday life)
Description of the use of theatrical conventions in the ensemble: (including transformation
of character, place and/or object, disjointed time sequences, heightened use of language,
exaggerated movement, stillness and silence, and caricature)
References to non-naturalistic techniques used in the ensemble: (e.g. techniques of Brecht,
Grotowski, Peter Brook, Barry Kosky, Arianne Mnouchkine, Pinter, Ramé & Fo and/or nonwestern practitioners/traditions/performance styles such as Tadshi Suzuki, Buto and/or
Beijing Opera, Tom Wright, Artaud)
Dramatic elements
Description of how dramatic elements were manipulated in the ensemble: (including
climax, conflict, contrast, focus, language, mood, rhythm, sound, space, symbol, timing and
tension)
Stagecraft
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Description of the use of stagecraft to define and enhance the ensemble: (including:
direction, costume, lighting, set design, sound production, make-up, mask, puppetry, props
and theatre technologies such as multimedia projection)
Expressive skills
Expressive skills used to communicate in the ensemble performance: (including voice,
movement, facial expressions and gesture)
Collaboration
Description of the collaborative processes used to develop/construct and present character/s
for the ensemble performance: (such as negotiation, brainstorming, directing, research,
improvisation, scripting, editing, rehearsing, refining and reflection)
Performer and audience
Description of how the relationship between the performer and audience was manipulated
and explored:
Research
Research undertaken:
experiences)
(Internet, texts, audio-visual, interviews, observations, personal
Bibliography:
Visuals/Documents: (annotated, edited and sorted – not necessarily everything handed out in
class or downloaded from the Internet)
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AREA OF STUDY 2
Responding to the ensemble performance
Outcome 2
Analyse play-making techniques used to construct and present ensemble works, including the
work created for Outcome 1.
Construction stages
Describe, analyse and evaluate stages of the construction phase of the ensemble: (including
research, improvisation, scripting, editing, rehearsing and refining)
Presentation
Describe, analyse and evaluate the presentation of the ensemble:
Styles and conventions
Ways performance styles and theatrical conventions were used in the development and
presentation of the ensemble performance:
Dramatic elements
Ways dramatic elements were used in the development and presentation of the ensemble
performance:
Stagecraft
Ways stagecraft was used in the development and presentation of the ensemble performance:
Play-making techniques
Ways play-making techniques were used in the development and presentation of the ensemble
performance:
Expressive skills
Ways expressive skills were used in the development and presentation of the ensemble
performance:
Extended responses
Describe, analyse and/or evaluate the stages of the construction phase of your ensemble,
including research, improvisation, scripting, editing, rehearsing and refining.
Describe, analyse and/or evaluate the presentation of your ensemble.
Discuss ways theatrical conventions, performance styles, dramatic elements, stagecraft, playmaking techniques and/or expressive skills were used in the development and/or presentation
of your ensemble.
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AREA OF STUDY 3
Analysing non-naturalistic performance
Outcome 3
Analyse and evaluate a non-naturalistic performance selected from the prescribed playlist.
Name and description of the performance
Styles and Conventions
Ways in which non-naturalistic performance styles and theatrical conventions were used to
enhance the performance:
Expressive skills
Ways in which characters were represented in performance through the actors’ use of
expressive skills: (including voice, movement, facial expression and gesture - and especially
through the use of non-naturalistic expressive techniques such as mime, song, dance, freeze,
tableau, transformation, choreographed movement, physical exaggeration and vocal sound)
Dramatic elements
Ways in which dramatic elements were manipulated to enhance the performance:
Stagecraft
Ways in which stagecraft was manipulated to enhance the performance:
Language
My list of terms used to describe and analyse the performance: (language of drama that is
associated with the performance styles, traditions, and practitioners from a range of
contemporary and/or cultural traditions)
Extended responses
Analyse ways in which the characters were represented through non-naturalism.
Analyse and/or evaluate the ways in which dramatic elements, theatrical conventions and/or
stagecraft were manipulated through non-naturalism.
Identify the non-naturalistic performance styles and conventions used in the performance.
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