Theatre Studies Unit 4: Presenting an Interpretation

Prerequisites

Theatre Unit 3.

Course Description

In this unit, students study a scene and an associated monologue. They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process. Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.

Students’ work for Areas of Study 1 and 2 is supported through analysis of a performance they attend. The performance must be selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 Playlist. The Playlist is published annually on the VCAA website. Students analyse acting, direction and design and the use of theatre technologies, as appropriate to the production. In conducting their work in Areas of Study 1 and 2, students develop knowledge in and apply safe and ethical theatre practices.

Monologue selection:

For Areas of Study 1 and 2, students must select a script, scene and monologue from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination published annually by the VCAA. The list will consist of a set of prescribed scripts, a specified scene from each script and a selected monologue from that scene.

Scene:

In this unit, the term scene refers to the designated segment/s or excerpt/s of a script selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination. Some prescribed scripts may contain more than one scene.

Production roles:

In Unit 4, Areas of Study 1 and 2, the production roles are:

• actor and director: students must work in both roles;

• designer – any two of costume, make-up, props, set, lighting, sound.

Areas of Study

Researching and presenting theatrical possibilities

In this area of study, students document and report on dramaturgical decisions that could inform a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene. Students outline an interpretation of the scene, focussing on the ways in which the scene could be approached as a piece of theatre, including its place within the script, specific structure, characters, themes, images and ideas, possibilities and theatre styles. Students conduct dramaturgy as the basis for decisions that will inform their interpretation. This includes research into the contexts of the script and influences on the playwright/s. Students consider how elements of theatre composition and theatre technologies could be employed to realise their proposed concepts and aims. They identify issues relating to safe and ethical theatre practices that they will need to apply in their work to realise their proposed interpretation.

Interpreting a monologue

In this area of study, students focus on the interpretation of a monologue from a scene contained within a script selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination published annually on the VCAA website. Students select a monologue from the current examination and study the text of the monologue, the prescribed scene in which it is embedded and the complete script from which the scene is derived. Students apply selected production roles and develop an interpretation of the monologue that is informed by a study of the prescribed scene and the complete script and dramaturgy, including the contexts of the play. Students make decisions about how the contexts, theatrical possibilities, elements of theatre composition and theatre styles will inform their interpretation of the monologue. Students work in their selected production roles to realise and present their interpretation of the monologue. They consider the interrelationships between acting, direction and design. The interpretation should be prepared for a performance of the monologue by an actor in a single, clearly lit, relatively small space.

Analysing and evaluating a performance

In this area of study, students focus on the analysis and evaluation of the acting, direction and design in a production selected from the prescribed VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 Playlist.

Students attend a production selected from the Unit 4 Playlist. They study the theatrical style/s evident in the performance and analyse and evaluate how actor/s, director/s and designer/s interpret the script for an audience. They consider the interrelationships between acting, direction and design in the performance. In doing so students consider character/s in the play, how the actor/s interpreted them on stage and the contribution of the director/s to this process. They study acting skills used by the actor/s to portray the character/s, including facial expression, voice, gesture, movement and stillness and silence.

Students develop an understanding of other aspects of acting, direction and design, including artistic vision, focus, the use of elements of theatre composition, the use of verbal and non-verbal language to convey the intended meanings of the play and the establishment and maintenance of the actor–audience relationship. Students’ understanding of the techniques being used by the actor/s, director/s and designer/s is informed by techniques they used to interpret the monologue they selected for Area of Study 1. They refine their understanding of the terminology and expressions associated with analysing theatre productions.

Assessment

Outcome 1: End of year performance exam (50% to the study score).

Outcome 2: Discussion of materials designed to assist in the recreation of notated recital works (20 marks – 10% to the study score).

Outcome 3: End of year aural and written examination (20% to the study score).

Overall Final Assessment

Graded Assessment	Title	Assessment	Exam Duration	Contribution to Study Score (%)
1	Units 3 and 4 Coursework	School-assessed		45
2	Monologue Performance Examination	October	7 mins	25
3	Written Examination	November	1.5 hours	30