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Year 9
Theatre Traditions
Kabuki

Student Booklet
Please complete the tasks in line with the lesson
Tasks 1 Kabuki Origins
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Watch this video about Kabuki and its origins, then answer the 4 short questions
below
Kabuki: The people's dramatic art - Amanda Mattes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oidE2SSDczw

1) Where does the word Kabuki come from?

2) What do Kabuki artists use instead of masks?

3) Give 2 examples of controls that were placed on the performance of Kabuki

by the government.

Example 1)

Example 2)

4) How many acts does Kabuki now have?

Now we will go through the answers together. Assess your answers.

Y (yes) I got it right
P (partially) Some parts of my answer was correct
N (no) I didn’t answer or my answer was incorrect
Now in a different coloured font add to your answers if they require more
information.

Task 2 Live Kabuki Performance

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Watch this clip of a live Kabuki performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hyrf_8ZNPRY&list=RDV9QHX0LTL0w&index=9
Comment below with 3 words that describe what you think/feel about this style
of performance and then explain why it has this impact on you in this way

1)

2)

3)
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Lesson 3 and 4 Strike a pose!

Now you will create your own Kabuki performance

During a highlight moment of a kabuki play, an actor will strike and hold a pose
while making dramatic gestures that might include craning their neck or using
eye contact, usually glaring. This postural movement, called a mie makes a very
beautiful impact on stage

Solo work

Experiment with dramatic use of:

Facial expression

Eye contact

Posture

Gesture

Spend time exploring different Mie poses.

When you have rehearsed and perfected your best four poses take photographs
and paste it below
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Lesson 4 Sharing your work

Mie 1 Mie 2

Mie 3 Mie 4

WWW

EBI

Lesson 5 Kabuki Make-up

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Use the above table to imitate, be inspired or influenced to create your own
Kabuki character using make-up. Don’t have any make-up-borrow some or get
creative!
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In the box below paste a picture of your 3 draft designs

Design 1

Design 2

Design 3

Which one are you selecting to develop and why?

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And finally…..

Paste a photograph of your final make-up photograph

Picture

How is your character communicated through the make-up you used? Don;t
forget to mention your colour choices.