Writing an introduction for Live Theatre
In all introductions
you must -
- Indicate the title, date and venue of the production referred to in your answer.
- Demonstrate understanding of the production aims - linking these to the focus of the question where appropriate
- Demonstrate understanding of the style/form/genre of performance - linking these to the focus of the question where appropriate
- Demonstrate understanding of the whole play - brief insight into the plot/themes etc. Decide what is appropriate depending on the question.
This understanding should also be demonstrated throughout the rest of the essay, where appropriate.
To practice introductions you can find past papers here.
Explain how the performers used vocal and physical skills to entertain or to thrill the
ReplyDeleteaudience in one live production that you have seen and assess the effectiveness of their performances at particular moments.
The Odyssey
The performance of The Odyssey was performed at Long Road Sixth Form College on the 30th November was a prime example of how vocal and physical skills can be used to thrill an audience. Splendid Productions, the actors, and the director Kerry Frampton, performed it as a piece of Greek theatre with Brechtian performance techniques. The primary aim of Splendid was entertaining an educational establishment, and to achieve this they used techniques such as physical theatre, clowning, puppetry and song, in an exemplary example of vocal and physical skill¬¬¬¬¬. I personally found it very enjoyable, considering their use of humour to make the ancient story of Odysseus, and his epic journey home from Troy “accessible and thrilling for a teenage audience”.
Explain how one performer used their performance skills to create two or more different characters in one live production that you have seen and evaluate their success at particular moments.
ReplyDeleteOn the 30th November I went to see ‘The Odyssey’ at Long Road sixth Form College. It was adapted by Splendid production with the aims to make theatre more accessible for student’s especially Greek stories and myths, to tell the story in a clear and entertaining way through characterisation and the highlight key ideas that are relatable to today’s society. It was directed by Kerry Frampton, Ben Hales and Matt Wilde who wanted to create ‘Challenging vibrant theatre for young people’ through the use of multi rolling; showing successful theatre can be created with only three actors; Frampton, Say and Stevenson. It was in a Brechtian style drawing influence from Greek theatre through mask work and physical theatre. The Odyssey tells the story of ‘Odysseus’ journey back home from the Trojan war; Frampton, Say and Stevenson embodying the contrasting characters he met of the way through their physical and vocal skills.
3. Explain how two or more performers used performance skills to bring their characters to life on stage at particular moments in one live production that you have seen and assess the effectiveness of their performances.
ReplyDeleteA performance which successfully had the actors using their performance skills to bring the characters to life was ‘The Odyssey’, through their use of slow-motion, ensemble, pitch, tone and pace of their voices. I saw this piece on the 30th November at Long Road Sixth Form College. A piece directed by Kerry Frampton, Matt Wilde and Ben Hales. This performance was a creative adaptation based on the original story of Odysseus, a non-naturalistic piece of drama which broke the fourth wall and incorporated Brechtian techniques; such as physical theatre. This production had the aims of; ‘bringing Brechtian theatre to life for students’, and ‘to create challenging and vibrant theatre for young people’. ‘The Odyssey’ was produced by the company Splendid Productions, who work to open the world of theatre to young children in schools, and colleges through short devised pieces and workshops. This production follows three soldiers in Odysseus’ army, who told the story through narration and multi-rolling as we are taken on a journey through Greece as the army returns home from war.