Unit 1: Pre-modern theatre styles and conventions
Students creatively and imaginatively interpret scripts as actors, directors and designers. They focus on three different theatre styles and their impact on the audience. Students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to plan, develop and produce live theatre performances. Students also attend several live performances which develps their understanding of the many ways world theatre is presented.
Areas of study
- Exploring pre-modern (before1920) theatre styles and conventions – Students study innovations in theatre production, contexts, cultural origins, production roles and performance possibilities. Students gain knowledge through practical workshops of how these styles shaped and contributed to the world of theatre
- Interpreting scripts – Students work creatively and imaginatively with scripts as actors, directors or designers and consider how their work is informed by the different styles and contexts.
- Analysing a play in performance – Students attend performances and analyse audience perspective, acting skills, directorial skills, design skills and theatre technologies
There are three outcomes:
- The student should be able to identify and describe distinguishing features of theatre styles and scripts from the pre-modern era
- The student should be able to work creatively and imaginatively in production roles to interpret scripts from the pre-modern era.
- The student should be able to analyse a performance of a script.
Unit 2: Modern theatre styles and conventions
Students creatively and imaginatively interpret scripts as actors, directors and designers. They focus on three different theatre styles and their impact on the audience. Students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to plan, develop and produce live theatre performances. Students also attend several live performances which develps their understanding of the many ways world theatre is presented.
Areas of study
- Exploring modern (post 1920) theatre styles and conventions – Students study innovations in theatre production, contexts, cultural origins, production roles and performance possibilities. Students gain knowledge through practical workshops of how these styles shaped and contributed to the world of theatre.
- Interpreting scripts – Students work creatively and imaginatively with scripts as actors, directors or designers and consider how their work is informed by the different styles and contexts.
- Analysing and evaluating a theatre production – Students attend performances and analyse audience perspective, acting skills, directorial skills, design skills, theatre technologies and theatre composition.
There are three outcomes:
- The student should be able to identify and describe distinguishing features of theatre styles and scripts from the modern era.
- The student should be able to work creatively and imaginatively in production roles to interpret scripts from the modern era.
- The student should be able to analyse and evaluate a theatre production.
Unit 3: Producing theatre
Students plan, develop and present a live performance for an audience. They choose two roles to specialise in and work collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively with their peers. This knowledge is used to analyse and evaluate the ways that actors, directors and designers interpret scripts for an audience.
Areas of study
- Staging Theatre – As a member of the production team, students work collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to create a production for an audience. They use elements of theatre composition as they undertake their production roles.
- Interpreting a script – Students explore their creativity by interpreting script excerpts and stimulus material. They discuss how an actor, director or designer might approach the script creatively.
- Analysing and evaluating theatre – Students analyse and evaluate the acting, direction and design of a VCAA selected professional production. They discuss the application of acting, direction and design, use of theatre technologies and elements of theatre composition to affect their audience.
There are three outcomes:
- The student should be able to interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles.
- The student should be able to outline concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and explain how these could be realised in a theatre production.
- The student should be able to analyse and evaluate the creative and imaginative interpretation of a written script in production to an audience.
Unit 4: Presenting an interpretation
Students prepare a monologue for their VCE performance exam by interpreting a script as either an actor/director or a designer. They attend a professional performance which they analyse focusing on the effectiveness of the acting, direction and design including the use of theatre technologies e.g. multimedia, film etc.
Areas of study
- Researching and presenting theatrical possibilities – Students document their imaginative interpretation of a scene and the monologue within it. They discuss its possibilities for interpretation by an actor, designer or director.
- Interpreting a monologue – Students focus on the interpretation of a monologue as either an actor/director or as a designer. Their creative interpretation is informed by the complete script.
- Analysing and evaluating a performance – Students attend a VCAA selected professional production. They analyse and evaluate how actors, directors and designers have interpreted the script for an audience. Students demonstrate their understanding of elements of theatre composition, verbal and non-verbal language and the actor–audience relationship.
There are three outcomes:
- The student should be able to describe and justify a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
- The student should be able to interpret and present a monologue and orally justify and explain their interpretive decisions.
- The student should be able to analyse and evaluate acting, direction and design in a production.
