Drama - Cambridge OCR

Theatre is a collaborative art form, with lots of people working together to move a play from page to stage.

It is important to understand the characteristics of dramatic work to make sense of a play.

The way that a performance space is arranged will impact how a show is staged and performed.

Stage positions are used to help keep track of how performers and set pieces move during rehearsal and performance.

Performers use a range of physical skills to portray a character. Their physical choices can also convey the character’s feelings.

Performers use a range of vocal skills to create characters and express how those characters are feeling.

The set is the space where the performance takes place and is crucial in helping to convey the setting.

A costume is what a performer wears on stage. Everything the performer wears, including wigs and make-up, has to be carefully considered by a costume designer.

Lighting design is an important aspect of theatre design that helps to create meaning, mood and atmosphere on stage.

Sound and music are used in theatre to convey meaning and atmosphere. Technical aspects need to be considered, as well as the selection of appropriate sources.

There are different dramatic techniques that can be included in a practical piece of work, including both vocal and physical elements, to help to bring a stimulus to life.

It is vital to employ a range of exploratory techniques to develop and work on initial ideas for a devised piece.

There are many genres and styles that can be explored in the initial stages of a devised piece to develop and steer it. It is vital that the chosen genre or style will work for the target audience.

Different theatre practitioners use various methods for performance and design and these can be used as an influence when creating a piece of theatre.

There are several stages within the rehearsal process to refine both design and performance elements.

There are many ways that a performance can be refined and developed by both performers and designers.

There are several tools available to performers when interpreting and performing a character, all of which can be experimented with.

There are several different designers working within each production. Each is responsible for communicating meaning to an audience through their designs on stage in a variety of ways.

Being aware of health and safety requirements is essential for performers and designers when creating and performing drama, to prevent injury.

Creating a portfolio or devising log is a creative and developmental process. The end result documents the procedure of devising a piece of drama.

Playwrights use the features of scripts to communicate to directors, performers and designers how to bring the play to life and take it from page to stage.

Performers aim to communicate a script effectively, using various acting skills to engage the audience and sustain their interest throughout a performance.

Designers need to create a design that contributes to the overall effect of the performance and communicates its intended meaning to the audience.

The written exam contains questions on a set text studied during the course, to test knowledge and understanding of how drama is developed and performed.

Live theatre evaluation involves analysing and evaluating a piece of theatre while demonstrating knowledge and understanding of how theatre is performed.