The Core Syllabus for Theatre
THEATRE IN CONTEXT
THEATRE PROCESSES
PRESENTING THEATRE
THEATRE IN CONTEXT
THEATRE PROCESSES
PRESENTING THEATRE
Theatre in Context is..
About context. Nothing exists in a vacuum, and that includes Theatre. During this course you will explore...
Personal context—Identifying your own personal contexts and understanding the impact your interests, influences and inspirations have on your choices, approaches and interpretations. This includes taking into consideration your own geographical location, cultural background, skills and experiences and the impact these make on the sort of theatre that you create and present •
Theoretical context—identifying and understanding the theatre theory that informs various play texts, theatre practices, theatre theorists and world theatre traditions across time and place. You then practically apply this understanding to your own work.
Cultural contexts- identifying and understanding the cultural, social, political and historical factors that affect theatre practice and practically applying this understanding to your own work.
The Theatre Guide definition (p.21) is:
'This area of the syllabus addresses the students’ understanding that theatre does not occur in a vacuum. Students examine the personal, theoretical and cultural contexts that inform theatre-making and the ways in which these affect and influence creating, designing, directing, performing and spectating. Through the theatre in context area, students will:
THEATRE PROCESSES are
The different processes involved in making theatre from the perspectives of creator, designer, director and performer. This involves exploring the essential elements of the performance and production processes outlined below and developing an understanding of how production elements function individually and with each other.
The theatre processes elements of the course help you to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the following areas. •
Creating—an understanding of different approaches to creating original and scripted theatre and an understanding of the art form and its elements (such as tension, atmosphere, emotion, communicating meaning, character, plot, symbol and aesthetics). You will develop an awareness of different styles of theatre, different performance spaces, structures, narrative and non-narrative forms of theatre. This may include evaluating a range of different approaches to making theatre, from diverse cultures and theatre traditions and performance practices including collaborative processes. You will gain practical experience of the various processes of transforming play texts into live action, forming and communicating directorial intentions through text and visuals. •
Designing—an understanding of the principles and processes involved in designing. You will explore diverse performance spaces and have an understanding of how production elements function individually and together. These elements include scenic design elements (such as set, costume, make-up and props) and technical design elements (such as lighting, sound and projection). You will explore the use of production elements in diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts.
Directing—a knowledge and appreciation of the processes undertaken by different directors in staging play texts with an understanding of directorial intentions and the different processes undertaken by directors to create a particular impact on an audience. This study can include evaluating directorial techniques from diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts. You will explore the various processes through which artistic ideas, intentions and interpretations are communicated to others.
Performing—an understanding and practical examination of rehearsal processes, performer training and the development of skills related to the use of voice, body, face, movement and gesture in performance.This area of study can include evaluating approaches to performance, performer training, performance conventions and techniques from diverse theatre traditions and performance practices.
Spectating—an understanding of how an audience receives, experiences and responds to theatre and how to analyse and critique a production. You will watch, critique and reflect on the impact live theatre productions have on you. You will also need to be aware of how the experience of these live productions inspires, influences and informs your artistic choices and your own work as creators of theatre, designers, directors and performers.
(DP Theatre Guide p.24)
In order to develop these skills and understandings you will:
Presenting theatre involves...
Presenting ideas about theatre and taking part in actual theatre performances. It provides opportunities for you to apply your practical theatre skills, either individually or collaboratively, through a range of formats; theatre productions, oral presentations, journal entries and (at HL) solo performances. You are required to explore this area from the perspectives of creator, director, performer and designer. During the course you will participate in a wide range of performance, production and presentation tasks. You will also experience productions in a variety of performance styles. An integral part of this experience is the process of self-reflection (in conjunction with the theatre journal) and an awareness of how audiences engage with a performance.
You will consider the impact theatre can have on the spectator and be encouraged to think about your own artistic intentions as creators, designers, directors and performers.
For this you will need to develop and apply skills, knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
All information on this page is taken from the DP Theatre Guide
About context. Nothing exists in a vacuum, and that includes Theatre. During this course you will explore...
Personal context—Identifying your own personal contexts and understanding the impact your interests, influences and inspirations have on your choices, approaches and interpretations. This includes taking into consideration your own geographical location, cultural background, skills and experiences and the impact these make on the sort of theatre that you create and present •
Theoretical context—identifying and understanding the theatre theory that informs various play texts, theatre practices, theatre theorists and world theatre traditions across time and place. You then practically apply this understanding to your own work.
Cultural contexts- identifying and understanding the cultural, social, political and historical factors that affect theatre practice and practically applying this understanding to your own work.
The Theatre Guide definition (p.21) is:
'This area of the syllabus addresses the students’ understanding that theatre does not occur in a vacuum. Students examine the personal, theoretical and cultural contexts that inform theatre-making and the ways in which these affect and influence creating, designing, directing, performing and spectating. Through the theatre in context area, students will:
- understand the contexts that influence, inform and inspire their own work as theatre-makers and that determine the theatre that they choose to make and study
- experience practically and critically appreciate the theoretical contexts that inform different world theatre practices
- be informed about the wider world of theatre and begin to understand and appreciate the many cultural contexts within which theatre is created'
THEATRE PROCESSES are
The different processes involved in making theatre from the perspectives of creator, designer, director and performer. This involves exploring the essential elements of the performance and production processes outlined below and developing an understanding of how production elements function individually and with each other.
The theatre processes elements of the course help you to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the following areas. •
Creating—an understanding of different approaches to creating original and scripted theatre and an understanding of the art form and its elements (such as tension, atmosphere, emotion, communicating meaning, character, plot, symbol and aesthetics). You will develop an awareness of different styles of theatre, different performance spaces, structures, narrative and non-narrative forms of theatre. This may include evaluating a range of different approaches to making theatre, from diverse cultures and theatre traditions and performance practices including collaborative processes. You will gain practical experience of the various processes of transforming play texts into live action, forming and communicating directorial intentions through text and visuals. •
Designing—an understanding of the principles and processes involved in designing. You will explore diverse performance spaces and have an understanding of how production elements function individually and together. These elements include scenic design elements (such as set, costume, make-up and props) and technical design elements (such as lighting, sound and projection). You will explore the use of production elements in diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts.
Directing—a knowledge and appreciation of the processes undertaken by different directors in staging play texts with an understanding of directorial intentions and the different processes undertaken by directors to create a particular impact on an audience. This study can include evaluating directorial techniques from diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts. You will explore the various processes through which artistic ideas, intentions and interpretations are communicated to others.
Performing—an understanding and practical examination of rehearsal processes, performer training and the development of skills related to the use of voice, body, face, movement and gesture in performance.This area of study can include evaluating approaches to performance, performer training, performance conventions and techniques from diverse theatre traditions and performance practices.
Spectating—an understanding of how an audience receives, experiences and responds to theatre and how to analyse and critique a production. You will watch, critique and reflect on the impact live theatre productions have on you. You will also need to be aware of how the experience of these live productions inspires, influences and informs your artistic choices and your own work as creators of theatre, designers, directors and performers.
(DP Theatre Guide p.24)
In order to develop these skills and understandings you will:
- create theatre based on theatre theory
- work with play texts
- examine world theatre traditions and performance practices.
- collaboratively create original theatre
Presenting theatre involves...
Presenting ideas about theatre and taking part in actual theatre performances. It provides opportunities for you to apply your practical theatre skills, either individually or collaboratively, through a range of formats; theatre productions, oral presentations, journal entries and (at HL) solo performances. You are required to explore this area from the perspectives of creator, director, performer and designer. During the course you will participate in a wide range of performance, production and presentation tasks. You will also experience productions in a variety of performance styles. An integral part of this experience is the process of self-reflection (in conjunction with the theatre journal) and an awareness of how audiences engage with a performance.
You will consider the impact theatre can have on the spectator and be encouraged to think about your own artistic intentions as creators, designers, directors and performers.
For this you will need to develop and apply skills, knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- presenting ideas about theatre using a range of formats
- performance skills
- the performance conventions of a particular theatre tradition
- production skills, including scenic elements (such as set, props, costume and make-up) and technical elements (such as lighting, projection and sound)
- audience engagement and how artistic choices have an impact on an audience
- reflection on your presentations to an audience and your learning
All information on this page is taken from the DP Theatre Guide