DR1 Exploration Notes

A Quick How to Guide.

Maximum 3000 Word Count. (100 word margin of error.)

Marked out of 20

Mark Scheme

Approximate Grade Band

Description

Marks

2 3 4

Students Exploration Notes show an outstanding knowledge and understanding of both texts explored. Practical observations are embedded in their notes, which are accurate, concise, analytical and well researched. Students Exploration Notes show an excellent understanding of both texts explored. There will be supported examples of the students own practical work and this will be shown in accurate, detailed comments. Students Exploration Notes show a good understanding of the texts explored. There will be a balanced response towards both texts with clear references to the students own practical work. Students Exploration Notes show an adequate understanding of the texts explored. There may be a tendency to regurgitate class notes and the work may be bland and repetitive. There will be very little sense of the students own practical exploration. Students Exploration Notes are limited in terms of content and understanding. There will be limited connection to the students own exploration work and possibly errors and inaccuracies.

17-20

13-16

9-12

5-8

0-4

Grade Boundaries A= 16-20 B= 14 - 15 C= 12 -13 D= 10- 11 E= 8 9 U= 0 - 7

The Exploration Notes are divided up into 8 separate sections for which you should refer and explore both texts equally. The 8 sections are equally weighted but some sections may be slightly longer and others slightly shorter. The sections and their approximate word counts are:

1. Language (400 Words)

How the playwright have used language within their play texts to create certain effects.

2. Non Verbal Communication (300 Words)

How Actors would perform the text using their physicality (body).

3. Vocal Awareness (300 Words)

How Actors would perform the text using their voice.

4. Characterisation (400 Words)

Using your own designated main character, what have your explored about the role and how it may be played?

5. Visual, Spatial, Aural Elements (400 Words)

How does Lighting, Sound, Set Design and Costume compare across the two texts?

6. Social, Historical, Political, Cultural Context (500 Words)

What key subtextual aspects exist in the texts and why are they important?

7. Response to Practitioner (500 Words)

Your exploration of the Practitioner and their Theatre style.
8.

Interpretation (200 Words)

If you approached the text as a director what would be the key ways you would approach the texts and why?

Section 1 Language.

This section is all about exploring the language of the 2 plays and their playwrights. You can lay this out and express this how you like but you should include the following for each play: 1.) Make at least three points about the language of the text and what effect is it tries to create. 2.) For each point give a good solid example from the play, fully quoted and referenced to the Act/Scene and page number. 3.) For each point give a good explanation as to how this use of language works in creating the intended effect. 4.) For each point give an example of how in class we have explored this aspect of the playwrights use of language Examples of Use of Language points you can discuss are:

Play The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov

The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertholt Brecht

Language Use Creating Realistic Speech patterns in characters. Using dialogue to promote a political message to the Audience Use of Punctuation to guide the Actors delivery of lines. Open stage directions to allow Director to control action. Implications of the fact that the script is a translation. How Characters are stereotyped through Language. How Song is used to create the alienation effect How social commentary is created through language. How status of characters is created through language. How the language aids the plot to move in curves.

5.) Finally add a small section that compares how the two texts differ in their use of language and why. TOP TIP: Do not exceed 400 words for this section!

Section 2 Non Verbal Communication (300 Words max 150 words per text)

For this section you need to apply your learning of your practitioners styles and techniques to the text focussing on the physical aspects of acting. Start by writing a very brief paragraph outlining what theatre style the practitioner was aiming to create and why. Then scan in a one page extract from both plays. Try and select an extract that gives you ample opportunity to apply comments. Then place your extract in the centre of the page and use text boxes to annotate. Clearly link your annotations with an arrow from the text box to the text. Things to comment on: Stanislavski: 1.) Method of Physical Action Movement Status Gesture Body Language Facial Expression Centre of Gravity 2.) Awareness of Being 3.) Emotion Memory 4.) Given Circumstances 5.) Magic if Brecht: 1.) Stereotype Movement Status Gesture Body Language Facial Expression Centre of Gravity 2.) Gestus 3.) Exaggeration 4.) Physicality 5.) Alienation Finally ensure that for each and every annotation you explain why you would use it here and link it back to a class exercise. Top Tip: - Be creative and think about the character you are playing! Section 3 Vocal Awareness (300 Words max 150 words per text)

For this section you need to apply your learning of your practitioners styles and techniques to the text focussing on the Vocal aspects of acting. Start by writing a very brief paragraph outlining what theatre style the practitioner was aiming to create and why. Then scan in a one page extract from both plays. Try and select an extract that gives you ample opportunity to apply comments. Then place your extract in the centre of the page and use text boxes to annotate. Clearly link your annotations with an arrow from the text box to the text. Things to comment on: Stanislavski: 1.) Method of Physical Action(Voice) Pitch Pace Pause Projection Accent Diction 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) Awareness of Being Emotion Memory Given Circumstances Magic if

Brecht: 1.) Stereotype Pitch Pace Pause Projection Accent Diction 2.) Song 3.) Exaggeration 4.) Comedic Timing & Delivery 5.) Alienation Effect Finally ensure that for each and every annotation you explain why you would use it here and link it back to a class exercise. Top Tip: - Be creative and think about the character you are playing! Section 4 Characterisation (400 words max 200 words per text)

In this section you are to select one character for each play text and undertake a brief character study. As usual you can present and express this in whatever form you choose. Try to follow the following content as guidance: 1.) Open with a brief character bio. Who are they? How old are they? How do they relate to other characters? What is their main objective in the play? What status are they? 2.) For each point that you make ensure your support it with a quote from the Text. 3.) Discuss how you would play the character if you were acting the part. 4.) As part of your take on the character ensure you apply practitioners theories relevant to the text and character. 5.) Explain your decisions supported by references to text and most importantly practical sessions you have undertaken. 6.) Discuss costume for the character (Perhaps an annotated drawing or picture Make sure that the costume you give is fitting for the style of Theatre i.e. Naturalism/Epic and you explain why and how it meets the right style.) Top Tip! Try to select characters that you have looked at in some depth but also avoid characters that are only small and develop little within the play. (E.g. Cherry Orchard Charlotta, Pischik or Caucasian Chalk Circle any roles that have fewer than 20 lines.)

Section 5 Visual, Spatial, and Aural Elements (400 words max 200 words per text)

Visual, Spatial and Aural Elements are the technical aspects that support the relevant play texts and Theatre Styles. You must demonstrate an understanding of the following key areas: Lighting Sound Set Design Costume (Good news! You should have covered this in Characterisation so as long as you have explained link between Theatre Style and Costume choice there no need to repeat here!

Lighting To complete this you should: Design a Lighting plan in birds eye view for an Act or Scene of each play.This should take into account: 1.) Type of Stage (Proscenium Arch, Thrust, Traverse, Black Box, etc) A very basic annotated set plan. A four bar lighting grid over layered on top of your set.

2.) 3.)

4.)

Different lantern types and the angles you may rig them at. Different colour gels Different Gobo Stencils you may use.

5.) 6.)

Your lighting plan must be clear, annotated with labels and a lantern key (see opposite for an example) and have a written explanation of how it meets its Theatre style of Naturalism/Epic Theatre.

Sound To complete this you should: 1.) Write a little about how the theatre style influences the choices of use of sound. 2.) What the sound demands of the play text are. 3.) Give examples from the texts of Sound effects, Music and Song where appropriate 4.) Explain how they would create your intended impact (link back to Theatre Style) on the audience. Set Design To complete this you should: 1.) Sketch a 3D perspective drawing planning out a specific scene or act from each play. 2.) Add colour where appropriate. 3.) Make sure it is accurately labelled. 4.) Make sure it matches and builds on the original stage directions from the texts. 5.) Explain how the Theatre style & Practitioner influences the set design.

6.) Compare it to other set designs for productions of the play. (Try Google images)

Top Tip! Most of this section is about sketching and planning but you will still need to write short accurate and detailed notes that compare the two Theatre Styles for each area.

Section 6 Social, Historical, and Political Context (500 words max 250 words per text) This section is all about the subtext and context of the plays. You will have already researched this as part of your practical workshops and home works. Both plays work with their context by handling them as themes. You will need to write about the relevant themes for each text. You essentialyl have two approaches to choose from: 1.) Pick 2 themes from each play and cover them in great depth 2.) Try and cover all the themes but in short accurate notations. If you choose option 1 you need to really check your facts and be accurate, detailed and properly linked to texts. If you choose option 2 you will be working against a very limiting 250 words per text word count. For each theme try to: 1.) Explain what the theme is. 2.) Explain any researched historical facts and information relevant to the theme. 3.) Explain how it is used in the play text. (Give Characters or Plot moments as reference points and use quotes as examples) 4.) Explain why is it is important to the play and playwright. (Remember to talk about Chekov not Stanislavski here! Brecht is Brecht. End of.) A sample list of themes for the texts are: Cherry Orchard Russian Society at the turn of the 20th Century Freedom of the Serfs Coming Russian Revolution Role of women in Society Representation of the Cherry Orchard as a dying old world. Representation of loss Caucasian Chalk Circle The different incarnations of a traditional folk story (Chinese proverb and Wisdom of Solomon. Difference between Justice and law How society crumbles during War Communism versus Capitalism Blood is not Thicker than water Love versus Selfishness

Top Tip - This section tends to lend itself to a more traditional written approach than the others!

Section 7 Response to Practitioner (400 words max 200 words per text) Response to Practitioner is not simply just a list of the Practitioner theories. It is as you might have guessed from the heading a response to them. This means that you absolutely must reflect on your practical sessions in this section! The very different natures of the Practitioners means that you may want to try different approaches here for each. In order to succeed you need to: 1. Identify - Identify the major aspects of the Practitioners Theories. 2. Define - Accurately define what the practitioner intended from each. 3. Contextualise - Put into context how this aspect may have developed or changed over time. (Research!) 4. Explore - Explain how you explored this in lessons. (What techniques or scenarios did you use.) 5. Reflect - Reflect on how it might have change your personal outlook on aspects of performance. 6. Respond - Respond on how it might create specific effects on an audience. Here is your Practitioner Hit list: Stanislavski - Naturalism System of Acting: Concentration Method of Physical Action Awareness of Being Truth & Belief Given Circumstances Magic If Emotion Memory Circles of Attention Tempo Rhythm Object/Super Objective Brecht Epic Theatre Epic Theatre: Plot moves in Curves Exaggeration Gestus Alienation Use of Song Use of Comedy Breaking the 4th Wall Didacticism Narration Placards

Top Tip! Spider diagrams, flow charts, mind maps and other graphical representations often help cut back on word count!

Section 8 Interpretation (300 words max 150 words per text) Interpretation is all about the part where you look at a scene or extract you have staged for your assessment and reflect upon your interpretation of it. You must: Identify what your selected scene was and the role you were playing. Explain your interpretation of your character (Give context relating plot, character and practitioner.) Reflect upon your performance How do you think it went? What areas of your interpretation were successful and why? What areas of your interpretation require further development and why.

Top Tip! Keep it short and refer back to your assessment booklets for comments and points to discuss.