Drama Level 2
Blame it on the gods
Achievement Standard 90302 version 2
Apply knowledge of a drama/theatre form or period
through performing a role within a presentation
Credits: 5
Developed by Verity Davidson, based on ‘The Wooden O’
Drama Level 2
“Blame it on the gods”
Achievement Standard 90302 version 2
Apply knowledge of a drama/theatre form or period through performing a role
within a presentation
Credits: 5
Student Instructions Sheet
Introduction
In this activity you will study Ancient Greek Theatre. You will identify key
features of the period and reference these within the preparation and
performance of an extract from the text of an Ancient Greek play. You will
perform in groups of two or three to an audience of your classmates. Your
teacher will tell you when and where the performance assessment will take
place – mark this and all rehearsal dates clearly in your diary.
You will need to complete all tasks in your portfolio as required and have your
portfolio ready for submission after your performance.
This activity will take place over 5 weeks of class time. You will be expected to
learn lines, complete research and portfolio tasks, and to attend extra
rehearsals outside class time.
You are being assessed on your:- clearly recorded knowledge of the features of Ancient Greek theatre
- understanding of how these features determine the production of Ancient
Greek theatre
- ability to perform your performance role using the features of Ancient
Greek theatre
Task One: The Features
Your teacher will guide you through a study of Ancient Greek drama and its
historical context. Use the class seminars and your own research to record
key features in your portfolio. Lay out your work with headings, diagrams,
labels, sketches, illustrations, and clear points. Your purpose is to show your
understanding of what was particular about this form/period of theatre, of how
it fits into what has gone before and since, and of how the drama was
presented on stage.
The following headings may help you organise your points:
A – The historical and social background; for example: - development from religious ceremony to theatre
- social, political and economic history of Ancient Greece 5th century BC
- religious customs and the gods
- festivals
B– The stage; for example
- theatres structure and layout,
- the audiences
- technology of the stage
C – Actors, acting and conventions
- masks
- costume
- actors
- chorus
D – Plays and Playwrights
- Sophocles and his plays
- Aeschylus and his plays
- Euripides and his plays
- Aristophanes and his plays
E – Comedy
- Old comedy
- themes
- verbal humour
- characterisation
F – Tragedy
- what is tragedy
- structure and storyline
- sources
- hero
For your first assessment task, you will work in a pair or small group to
prepare a presentation on one aspect of Ancient Greek Theatre.
This presentation should indicate relevant and thorough research of this
aspect. You will present your research to the class, in the form of a teaching
seminar and performance. You will provide, as a part of your presentation:
 visual aids to help your explanations (eg. Posters, charts, OHTs,
slides, photos, power-point, film, video, dvd, models, cartoon, props)
 typed notes clearly outlining the main points
 a group performance of one of the choruses from Antigone by
Sophocles
Task 2
The Text
You will read the Ancient Greek play, Antigone by Sophocles with your class.
We will discuss the features of Ancient Greek Theatre as evident in the play.
Choose a chorus that you will perform for an audience of your classmates.
You will work in a group of three or four people. Stick a copy of your script
into your portfolio. In your group, look closely at your extract and annotate it
for evidence of the key features you have studied. You will use these in your
performance. Ensure that your chorus gives all group members the possibility
to achieve excellence – ie that each person will be able to reference many
key features in performance.
Create a chart recording:- feature/s you will use
- when in the script you will use it
- how you will make its intent clear to an audience
Task 3
The Research
To show an understanding of the play and of your role in it make notes in
your portfolio under the following headings:
 brief synopsis of the full play
 translation of your chorus in modern language
 the role of your particular chorus in the play
Task 4
The Rehearsals
During the rehearsal period you will need to achieve the following:
- understand the meaning of the lines you are saying - work physically with
the images in the lines
- understand the rhythm and pace. Use movement to enhance this.
- understand the role of this chorus within the play and use this to inform
your performance intentions
- understand the Greek use of space - block and plot your moves onto a
floor plan
- memorise your lines
Task 5
Preparation for performance
- Revisit and update your chart from task two showing how you will
reference each feature in your performance. Ensure you are using a range
of features that include aspects of staging, of the historical context, the
social ideas, and the use of drama techniques. Your teacher will use this
chart to see which features you will reference in performance. While not all
the features you have identified in task one will be able to be referenced in
your performance, you must make it clear in your portfolio why the
remaining features are not appropriate.
- This is more than a mere performance of the chorus – you must introduce
and frame the performance so that the audience understand the link
between your work and Ancient Greek Theatre.
- Check with another group, and your teacher, how clear the referencing of
the features is and work on any weak areas; write their responses in
your portfolio. You must make it clear in your performance that you
understand the relevance of the features to Ancient Greek drama.
Consider that the performance is a teaching exercise for an audience who
knows nothing of Ancient Greek drama; how can you ensure your features
are highlighted and presented in ways that make their use and intent
clear? Excellence students will show a clear understanding of the meaning
of the extract, the intention of the chorus, and the relationship between
these and the performance style of the period through their effective use of
features in performance.
- Hand in your portfolio.
Task 6
Perform
Present your teaching seminar and performance to your audience. Whilst this
is a demonstration of features you are being assessed on your understanding
of and ability to apply the features effectively and perceptively, and so all
aspects of the presentation and performance must be as professional as you
are able to make them.
You will be assessed on your:
- presentation of features of Ancient Greek Theatre through a seminar and
visual aids
- portfolio record of features
- referencing of features within performance
- portfolio reflection of knowledge gained through performance
Task 7
Reflection
Reflect on your personal experience of the presentation and performance and
of your knowledge of Ancient Greek drama by answering the following
questions in your portfolio:
 How did performing your extract help you to understand the features of
Ancient Greek drama?
 What challenges did you encounter in presenting a seminar and in
performing chorus text?
 Which features did you reference most effectively? How do you know?
“Blame it on the gods”
Achievement Standard 90302
Apply knowledge of a drama/theatre form or period through performing a role
within a presentation
Credits: 5
Assessment Schedule
Achieved
The student will
participate in a
presentation on the
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre,
which includes
visual aids.
The student
completes all
written tasks in
portfolio, covering
features of all
required aspects of
Ancient Greek
Theatre, and
references these to
the performance of
a chorus from
Antigone
The student
participates
actively in a
performance of a
chorus from
Antigone, showing
an understanding
of the style.
Achieved with
Merit
Features of Ancient
Greek Theatre
accurately
identified through
presentation and
visual aids.
Typed notes made
available for class.
Eg: Seminar
presents main
features of Greek
Tragedy and the
works of
Sophocles,
Euripides and
Aeschylus, using
posters.
Achieved with
Excellence
Extended range of
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre
accurately
identified through
presentation and
visual aids. Typed
notes made
available for class.
Eg: in addition,
seminar also
explores Greek
Comedy and uses
Powerpoint chart
showing origins of
both comedy and
tragedy and their
later development.
Features of Ancient Extended range of
Greek Theatre
features of Ancient
accurately
Greek Theatre
identified.
accurately
identified.
Annotated script
shows appropriate Annotated script
features of Ancient shows appropriate
Greek Theatre.
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre.
Comprehensive
range of features of
Ancient Greek
Theatre accurately
identified through
presentation and
visual aids. Typed
notes made
available for class.
Eg: in addition,
seminar includes
information on the
development of the
use of masks and
acting style in both
Tragedy and
Comedy.
Appropriate
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre
used in
performance of
chorus.
Eg: use of
movement and
song to create
spectacle and
enhance the
meaning of the
Appropriate
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre
used perceptively
in performance of
chorus.
Eg: in addition, use
of one person as a
leader of the
chorus who uses
spoken voice while
the others sing;
Appropriate
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre
used effectively in
performance of
chorus.
Eg: in addition, use
of circular
pathways of
movement to show
stage shape; use
of costume in the
Comprehensive
range of features of
Ancient Greek
Theatre accurately
identified.
Annotated script
shows appropriate
features of Ancient
Greek Theatre.
chorus.
style of Ancient
Greek Theatre.
use of an altar in
the centre of the
space which
becomes the
central focus of the
chorus movement.