Last minute vocabulary support 

What do all those words in the questions mean?

All Live Theatre Questions ask you to -

"Explain how ............. performer/s ....????...... to .....????........ in one live production that you have seen and assess the success of their performance at particular moments."

Below are lists of the different things you could talk about-

Skills

Physical skills

Movement, gesture, posture, gait,

Use of dance, physical theatre, mime

Specialist skills, for example, circus, acrobatics

Specific qualities such as: poise, balance, lifts, strength, timing

Vocal skills:

Pitch, pace, volume, pause, emphasis, accent, singing, choral delivery, non-verbal sounds

Acting skills

- vocal: pitch, pace, pause, emphasis, accent

- physical: movement, gesture, posture, gait, poise, balance

- facial expression, eye contact

- Use of space

- Use of costume or props

- Interaction with other characters

Non- naturalistic skills can include-

Mime, physical theatre, chorus, ensemble work, acrobatics, dance, circus skills, mask work, song, multi-role

Vocal skills - pitch, pace, pause, emphasis, accent, singing, choral delivery, chanting - non-naturalistic sounds: shrieks, cries, vocal distortion

Physical skills - movement, gesture, posture, gait, poise, balance, synchronised movement - use of dance, physical theatre, mime

Specialist skills – e.g. circus, acrobatics – puppetry

Naturalistic acting skills - aspects to discuss

Characterisation - portrayal of personality traits, idiosyncrasies - methods of aging (up or down) - accurate portrayal of actual people - similarities between members of same family - their attitude towards others - status/hierarchical qualities - historical or period qualities

To create/achieve

Creation of character-

Age, class, status, personality traits, emotional states, physical states, attitudes,

Relationships with others, idiosyncrasies, accurate portrayal of actual people, similarities between members of same family, historical or period qualities

Multi role

Naturalistic or non -naturalistic characterisation, role or part, chorus member, ensemble, discrete character, actor as environment

• Methods of differentiating between characters: physically, vocally, changing appearance

• Deployment of physical skills by the performer o movement, gesture, posture, gait, poise, balance, mime

• Deployment of vocal skills by the performer o pitch, pace, volume, pause, emphasis, accent, singing, choral delivery, non-naturalistic sounds: shrieks, cries

• Interaction with others

• Physical appearance of the performer

• Delivery of specific lines

• Use of props, costume, make-up, hair to enhance/support characterisation

• Relationship with audience, direct address, aside

• Attempts to elicit differing audience response to each character

Entertaining an audience can include making them feel -  

engagement, happiness, sorrow, pity, sympathy, empathy, anger, hatred, disgust, joy, surprise, shock, tension, admiration, excitement, awe

Emotional responses from the audience –

Laughter, sympathy, empathy, sadness, anger, hatred, disgust, joy, surprise, shock, excitement, awe, fear, concern

Specific Effects could include –

·      Creation of truth or alternative reality

·         An environment, creature, visual effect

·         Delight, comedy, horror, shock

·         A desired audience response, such as engagement, happiness, sorrow, pity, sympathy, empathy, anger, hatred, disgust, joy, surprise, shock, tension, admiration, excitement, awe,

Mood/Atmosphere

·         changes in tension, creation or dissipation of suspense

·         Increased or decreased amusement, joy

·         shock, sympathy, disgust, contempt