A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama.

Handout 1 - Overview

An overview of: Practical Project:

What do I need to achieve?

There are three essential elements to your work.

1) A devised performance that demonstrates your chosen theatrical style (either Physical
Theatre or Epic Theatre)

2) A productive and purposeful devising and rehearsal process

3) 1500-2000 words of supporting notes about your research, reflection and analysis.

1) A devised performance?

As a group you will share the responsibility of devising (i.e. working together to develop an
original piece of drama) and presenting a performance based on your choice of stimulus
material. You may use any appropriate topic or material as subject matter to base your
devising process around as long as it is suitable for working in your chosen style.

Tip: The three fundamental aspects your examiner will look for are
1) Does your work achieve clearly defined dramatic aims?
2) Does your work demonstrate the style you have chosen to work in?
3) The quality and degree of rehearsal of your individual performance

Extract from the exam specification

showing the assessment objectives

The assessment of the final performance will be form 50% of the overall mark you receive.

1.1) Chosen theatrical style

You must as a group reach a clear decision on what style you are working in and stick with
it. You should NOT attempt to work in a combination of styles as this will only confuse you
and make it very difficult for you to achieve high marks.

You have a choice between working in the following styles

A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

EPIC THEATRE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE

You must engage in research into this style (using the provided material AND your own
investigations) and select elements of the style that work well with your dramatic intentions
and chosen material. You should note that unlike last year, it is not appropriate to have a
just a single specific influence, you should look at the development and history of your
chosen style as well as a range of contemporary practitioners.

1.2) Clear dramatic aims

As a group you should share a clear purpose and be working towards the same goals. It is
vitally important that as a group your aims are precise, shared by all members and are
appropriate to the style of theatre you are working in. It is an excellent idea to create a
statement of your aims and to revise and refine it at certain points during the process in
order to ensure everyone is able to self assess the work against the same goals.

Section 2: A Productive Rehearsal Process?

You will all, as a group be responsible for developing the drama in an effective and
relevant manner. Your tutor will be able to support you through the process and offer help,
criticism and advice but you are expected to take responsibility for your own creativity and
be aware that over reliance on others for motivation or ideas could have an adverse effect
on your preparation grade. Equally, taking responsibility, motivating others, being self
reliant and self disciplined will have a positive impact on your grade.

Tip:
Devising can be challenging or frustrating and it is easy to slip into a habit of
discussing ideas. It is a really good idea to
set a group rule to limit discussion and
ensure that you are trying things out
practically instead.

Assessment objectives for the devising and

rehearsal part of the process.

Your ʻpreparation gradeʼ will form 25% of your mark for the project.
A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

Your tutor will assess you on the basis of your contribution to the process which will give
you part of your final grade. They will consider:

• Whether you know what you are trying to achieve (dramatic intentions.)

• Whether you understand the style of theatre and show this in your work.

• Whether you are co-operative and constructive.

• Whether you are self motivated and self disciplined.

• Whether you show good judgement when evaluating your own/groups work.

• Whether you show good judgement when evaluating techniques and ideas you could use
from the work of others (live or video theatre performance.)

• Whether your own practical skills are well developed and rehearsed.

• Whether your own practical work meets the needs of your piece.

• Whether you meet deadlines, are reliable and deal with challenges and difficulties
maturely and responsibly.

Tip:

Your tutor will want to see your work at various stages of the process. Their
feedback will be invaluable in helping you reach higher grade, but if you arenʼt able
to show them the work, then they arenʼt able to help you.

No practical work = no feedback = difficult to progress.

Tip:

During any creative process there is potential for clashes of opinion - remember
that your tutor is an objective outside eye that can help you make decisions
provided you maturely explain or demonstrate the options.

Tip:

Look at your handout on devising techniques for inspiration and donʼt be afraid to
develop your own creative methods of working.

Tip:
A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

Always remember - it doesnʼt matter who had an idea in the first place, itʼs how itʼs
developed that matters. The audience will see a group of actors and wonʼt care who
had what idea, only whether the drama is effective.

Section 3: Supporting Notes

Like last year, you must produce

a set of notes explaining your
research, analysing your
process and assessing the
success of your role and the the
overall piece.

The structure of the work is

explained below:

Each section is to be between

500 and 700 words excluding
bibliographies (total word count
between 1500-2000 words)

These sections are taken from the

exam specification and the content
must follow these guidelines. You
must follow this structure as it is a
requirement of the exam.

Though this section is called ʻsupporting notesʼ you should write in full sentences but taken
advantages of bullet points, lists etc where appropriate.

See the example of high grade supporting notes for clear guidance of the style you need
to adopt when writing this work.

Tip:
A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

You should keep your own personal notebook or record during the project, so you
can reflect on the various stages of the process. This will not be marked, but will
aid you enormously in writing a strong
and detailed set of notes.

Tip:

Could you record group discussions

about the project, the research and the
methods you are going to use to help
you write various sections of the notes?

Assessment objectives for the supporting notes section. (from exam specification)

Other key information

Your written work must be submitted BEFORE the practical work. The moderator must
have access to your MARKED supporting notes therefore you must allow your tutor
adequate time to annotate them.

Your preparation grade could be effected by failing to complete written tasks to a suitable
standard such as evaluation or research as these are part of the process of developing a
piece of drama

FAQ:

- Q. Is it an individual or a group mark?

- A. It is an individual mark, though the overall quality of the work will obviously effect your
own performance and directed, motivating, contributing ideas and creating production
elements are a shared responsibility
A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

- Q. What if one person ʻlets us down?ʼ

- A. If someone is consistently late, absent or unenthusiastic then make sure that you donʼt
ʻwaitʼ for them or cast them in a vital role. Remember, a devised piece can meet the
strengths of different cast members so use this to your advantage when creating roles for
each other.

- Q. How important is this project?

- A. Very - itʼs worth 40% of your overall mark for A2

- Q. What if it doesnʼt go so well?

- A- It must! Donʼt think negatively, think constructively and rehearse hard and it will go
really well. This is a possibly unique chance to make an original and ambitious piece of
theatre so grasp it.

- Q. Do we all have to have equal roles?

- A. No, there is no need to have exactly the same amount of stage time.

- Q. Iʼve got a supporting role playing a chorus member and the narrator and my
group member is the lead character. Does this matter?
- A. No, not at all. Itʼs not who you are in the play or how much you are on stage that
matters, itʼs how you use the role you have got. A narrator or chorus could be the most
creative part of a play and outshine the central character.

- Q. Is one style better than the other?

- A. No, not at all - Each style has their benefits and challenges.

- Q. Do we have to script our work?

- A. No, you donʼt have to provide a script for me or the moderator and you should not
ʻwriteʼ the piece. You may (and probably should) create some form of script or ʻscoreʼ in
the last few weeks to ensure your work is totally polished and every understands it.

Please note - If one of your group members writes a whole script at the beginning
of the project and you just rehearse and perform it, you are likely to fail. You may
use the potential writing skills of your group put this must be as part of a devising
process, not instead of it.

- Q. Can we do a musical?
- A. No, but you could create a piece of Epic or Physical Theatre that uses music and song
as a key part of it providing you can justify it through your research.

- Q. Can our work really be on anything?

- A. Yes, but you must consider whether it gives you an opportunity to work on your style
and your group should be agreed on the topic.
A2 Drama & Theatre Studies: Unit 4 Development of Devised Drama. Handout 1 - Overview

FINAL TIP: KEEP IT

SIMPLE!
Do: In depth research
Do: Use ambitious and adventurous techniques
Do: get absorbed in your role
Do: become experts in your theme or starting point
BUT DONʼT: Get bogged down in an over complicated plot or long discussions
about ʻwhat the play is aboutʼ - Your aims should be bold and ambitious but at the
same time precise and succinct.