YEAR 8 DRAMA

Michael

Welcome back to FHS performing

arts!
What will you learn?

Welcome to our year 8 drama unit, Pre-modern Drama

which includes Commedia del Arte, Ancient Greek

Theatre and Melodrama.

During this term-long subject students will learn about

the three distinct styles of Pre-Modern Theatre in

performance. Students will learn to compare and

contrast the three distinct styles and they will study and

incorporate specific theatrical conventions from each in

their own short plays. Students will learn to create stock

characters and to understand the features of stereotypes

and archetypes through developing a group work for

their peers using key dramatic elements. Students will

 Lesson 1

Theatre Style = Genre

Conventions = Characteristics or qualities

 Setting up your Drama journal
Spend some time setting up your drama journal. This documentation will be an
ongoing process, and should be set up digitally (google slides).

Start with a title page that states the subject, year level, and your name. On the
following page, answer the following questions:

1. What interests you about drama? Do you have prior theatre

experience?
2. What would you like to learn in Drama?
3. Tell me about what kind of music you like. Include your fave
artists/genre, etc.
4. In your free time, what do you like to get up to?
5. What is your fave TV show/movie?
6. What do you want to be after high school?
7. What is your biggest dream/goal in life?
8. How do you learn best? For example: videos, hands-on activities,
writing notes, etc
9. What is a question you have for me?
Melodrama developed as a theatrical form in the 19 th century in France and quickly became the
dominant theatre form in Western culture for the next century. Its primary purpose was to
entertain, and enabled a form escapism for the middle and lower class people who were
experiencing long working hours and poor conditions. As time has progressed, contemporary
melodramas have emerged through superhero films such as: Batman, Superman and Catwoman.
Contemporary melodrama tends to be simpler, yet the conflict and characterisation remains clear
 Examples of melodrama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Sy8nPI85Ih4 yb30w4s4VPs

Deadpool Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

What common things did you notice in these clips?

Convention #1

In an aside, a character speaks

directly to the audience to reveal a
thought or plan that is kept secret
from the other characters. The
performer’s delivery of an aside
should establish a feeling of
secrecy and the audience’s focus
from the general action to the
performing delivery the aside.
 Mini Task: insert your own asides
Independently, read the small monologue below. Pretend this
monologue is being delivered to another character. In the
blank spaces provided, fill in your own asides. What is the
character actually thinking in relation to what they are saying?

Oh hi! It’s great to see you again ____________________.

You’ve changed your hair since the last time I saw you,
it looks great! ____________________. How’s your
family going? I heard your kids were up to some exciting
things ________________. Well listen, I’d love to stay
and chat, but I have something really important to attend
to, ______________. We must try and catch up really
soon. ___________________. Bye!
 Lesson 2

Melodrama Research Task

In small groups, watch this video and answer the questions found on
the following slide in your journal
 Journal questions

Please make sure you answer each question in detail and in

your own words

1. In what century did melodrama gain popularity? And in

what country did it originate?
2. What are the six stock characters in Melodrama?
3. List 2 subgenres of melodrama
4. List as many films as you can think of that include
melodrama? E.g., over the top acting (Avatar), cheesy
storylines (The Notebook), intense spectacle (Moulin
Rouge)

Once you have finished these questions, move onto the next
google slide
 Making melodrama
In your Drama journal, write a short story using as
many stock characters as you possibly can.
Remember, melodrama depicted situations that
were larger than life and often nonsensical. Have
fun with this activity. I look forward to reading
your wild stories.
 Task: Walk around the space and invent gestures (actions) for each of these three characters.Tip: Make sure that

ACTIVITY TIME your gestures are big, as this is the style of Melodrama.

The Damsel (Innocent victim):

A melodrama ‘Damsel in distress’ is usually a beautiful young lady who is under the power of a villain. In most

cases the villain blackmails the damsel and an unexpected hero comes forth to help her.Damsels are usually wear a

dress and are often portrayed as young adults. They are trapped by the villain and cry for help.The Damsel comes

across as being underpowered and cannot stick up for herself. They come across as a weak character.
3 melodrama stock
characters
The Villain:

The Villain is a wicked character who is malicious and capable of crime, he is responsible for causing trouble and

destruction. They are sneaky and creep around, trapping the unsuspecting victim. Also they have an evil cackling

laugh; they find pleasure in the torment of the victim.

The Hero

The Hero is a character with superhuman strength and often leads a dual life as an ordinary person and a

superhero. They hear the cries for help of the victim and rescue them. They always defeat the evil villain,
 Watch examples of melodrama found on the classroom site here:
ACTIVITY TIME https://sites.google.com/footscray.vic.edu.au/year08-drama-unit-1/learning/melodrama Then,

create your own melodrama film, in groups of 4-6. It must be:

1. A silent film – you can use title cards to tell what the characters are saying e.g. “help, help,

help!”

2. It must tell a typical melodramatic story: the hero must triumph over the villain
Making Melodrama 3. It must have at least three characters who are a hero, victim and villain.

4. It must run between 30 seconds and 1 minute.

5. You must film it on someone’s phone in the group. Not everyone has to be in the film, but

everyone must contribute to the group. If you are not acting, maybe you are filming?

Maybe you need to write the title cards.

6. You must have at least 8 different shots (and try to vary them- have some close-ups and

some wide-shots- be inventive)

7. Finish with a title card “the End”