CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ART

J.S. S. 2 THIRD TERM NOTES OF LESSON

1|Page
 THIRD TERM SCHEME OF WORK

1. Revision of last term work.

2. Introduction to clay ____Definition, sources, types, classification,
properties, preparation, preservation and uses of clay.
3. Introduction to Ceramics _____Meaning, techniques or methods of
modeling and products of ceramic wares.
4. Introduction to Sculpture______ Meaning, materials, types of
Sculpture, modeling of (a) free standing forms (b) simple shapes/
objects (c) relief work (Low and High).
5. Marketing of Art products ______Definition, various outlets of art
products, sources of fund, ways of marketing art products,
determining factors of prices of art products.
6. Introduction to crafts _____ Definition, types, materials and tools,
location/ centre of production, uses/ functions, production.
7. Creativity and risk taking ______ definition of creativity and risk,
processes involved in creativity, risk taking in all fields of art.
8. Drama creation/ construction of drama ______The processes
involved in achieving a desired goal in drama, rehearsing a
production.
9. Stage design and management______ Meaning, activities in stage
design and management, responsibilities of a stage manager,
types of stage design, designing a stage.
10. Dramatists and playwrights______ Definition, types/ categories of
playwrights in Nigeria, differences between playwrights and
dramatists.
11. Revision.
12. Examination.

2|Page
 INTRODUCTION TO CLAY

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should able to

1. define clay.
2. state the properties of clay.
3. mention the types of clay.
4. mention the methods of clay preparation.
5. state the uses of clay.
6. prepare clay for ceramic use.

Clay is an earthy material which consists of very fine particles of soil and a certain chemical called ‘colloid’
which makes it soft and sticky when wet. It becomes hard when dried and fired at a very high
temperature.

Sources/ Formation of clay

Clay is formed from long time weathering (breaking down) of felspathetic rock caused by water, ice, snow,
wind and erosion.

Clay can be found in moist, muddy or damp environment such as swampy areas of soil, river-beds (sea
shore, lakes, ponds etc), rock base and sometimes while digging a well.

Types of Clay

1. Primary clays: These are pure and clean clays such as kaolin (China clay). Primary clays
are found in their original site of formation.
2. Secondary clays: These are clays that have been moved from their primary location to
another place either by wind or water. This explains why they usually come with plenty of
impurities.

Classification of Clay

Clays are classified or grouped into

1. Earthenware clays: They are the most commonest class of clays that can be sticky and easily
worked. They contain iron and other mineral impurities which cause them to reach optimum
hardness at between 950°c and 1100°c.
2. Stoneware clays: They are plastic clays that are often grey when moist. Their fired colours
range from light grey to medium grey and brown.
3. Ball clays: They are extremely plastic ( high temperature) clays used with other clays to
improve their workability and plasticity. Ball clays cannot be used alone due to their
excessive shrinkage during drying and firing.

3|Page
 4. Fire clays: They are characterized by their high firing range of about 1500°c. They are
relatively free from mineral impurities but tend to have spots of iron.
5. Porcelain clays: They are kaolin based clays characterized by their light grey, buff or bright
white colour, translucency and fabulous appearance when glazed, but they tend to collapse
easily during the forming process.
6. Bentonites: They are clays composed of very fine particles derived usually from volcanic
ash. They are composed chiefly of calcium-aluminum silicate called ‘montmorillonite’.

Properties of Clay

1. Plasticity: Ability of clay to be bent, pressed or changed into different shapes and retain the
shapes without breaking or cracking.
2. Fineness of grain (softness).
3. Cohesion: The ability of clay to stick together.
4. Hardness when dry or fired.
5. Shrinkage ( that is, reduction in size) under firing or drying.

Preparation of Clay

Clay is not useable immediately after it had been dug up. It needs to be worked into a homogeneous
mass after lumps, particles and other foreign bodies have been removed.

Clay can be prepared either in dry or wet state depending on the ceramist’s or potter’s need.

Dry Method

Step I ____Remove impurities from the clay obtained from the site and spread out to dry.

Step II ____Pound in a mortar or grind into powdered form.

Step III ____Sift the powdered clay with a sieve to remove the remaining impurities.

Step IV ____Mix the fine clay powder with enough water to make a thick dough.

Step V _____Knead properly on a flat surface sprinkling small quantity of water until the right consistency
is achieved.

Note: The process of kneading clay is known as wedging.

Wet Method

Step I ____Break large lumps of wet clay and remove pebbles, roots and other impurities. Spread out to
dry.

Step II ____Soak in water for several days, being well stirred until there are no lumps left.

4|Page
Step III ____Pour the liquid clay(slip) through a sieve into a shallow tank where it is allowed to settle for
several days.

Step IV ____Take the resulting clear water off, place the remaining slip in cotton sacks and hang out to
drip to a very thick dough.

Step V ____Wedge the clay dough until the desired consistency is achieved.

Note: (1) To improve clay malleability (that is, workability of clay), clay is spread on the ground or
exposed to weather to allow for ageing.

(2) Clays that are too plastic or sticky, can be mixed with grog (powdered clay) to improve their
workability, reduce the rate of shrinkage and give strength to the body.

Preservation of Clay

To store prepared clay for future use, cut your clay into sizeable lumps and wrap up with air-tight and
non-porous cellophane sheets. Put the wrapped clay lump in a plastic container and cover properly. Each
time you desire to work with clay, open the container, cut the quantity of clay needed and cover the clay
container back tightly.

Uses of Clay

1. Clay is used in ceramics or pot-making.

2. It is used in making sculptures.
3. It is used in many industrial processes such as cement production, paper making, etc.
4. It is used for making construction products such as bricks, wall and floor tiles.
5. It is used in pharmaceutical industries for the production of certain drugs.
6. It is used in the making of drawing materials such as pencils, etc.
7. It was used to build houses in the ancient time.
8. It can be used as a writing material. Example, clay tablet which was the first known writing
medium
9. It is used as a traditional medicine to soothe upset stomach.

INTRODUCTION TO CERAMICS

Learning objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define ceramics.
2. mention the materials and tools needed for ceramics.
3. mention the methods of ceramic production.
4. mention the types of kiln and stages of firing.

5|Page
 5. make ceramic wires.

Ceramics is a word used to describe various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant utensils
and other non-metallic or non-plastic products. The word ‘ceramics’ originated from the Greek word
“Keramos’” meaning “potter’s burnt clay”.

Ceramics is an area of applied art because it applies aesthetic principles to the decoration of the useful
products. It is a three dimensional art which means that the products usually posses height, width and
depth.

Products of Ceramic wares

1. Ceramic floor and wall tiles.

2. Dinner wares (breakable plates and cups).
3. Glass wares (bottles, louvers, lenses, light bulbs, etc.).
4. Pottery (vessels, pots, etc).
5. Bricks.
6. Bath tubs.
7. Marbles.
8. Insulators.
9. Automobile spark plugs.
10. Lab equipment.

Materials Needed for Ceramics

There are two types of ceramic materials namely; Traditional ceramic materials and Advanced ceramic
materials.

1. Traditional Ceramic Materials: These are the earliest raw materials used to produce ceramics
as pottery. Example: clay minerals such as kaolinite and aluminum oxide.
2. Advanced Ceramic Materials: They are modern materials such as silicon carbide, tungsten
carbide, etc.

Tools Needed for Ceramics

1. Scooper: This is used to scoop out excess clay when making an object with scoop method.
2. Foams/ sponges: They are used to apply water and smoothen clay while building up a form
with throwing method.
3. Clay cutter; This is used to cut clay to perfection. It is also, used to test clay to ensure that
there are no air bubbles or particles that could cause a finished clay production to burst
during firing.
4. Fork and toothpick: They are used to make various intricate designs on modeled clay.
5. Scooper: This is used to scoop out excess clay when making an object with scoop method.

6|Page
 6. Felting knife: This is used for cutting slabs of clay.
7. Needle tools: They are used for cutting, incising and scoring.
8. Clay texture tools: They are used for applying surface designs to unfired clay. Examples of
texture tools are clay mats, stamps, rollers, etc.
9. Ceramic moulds: They are used for making Several ceramic pieces of the same shape.
10. Brushes: They are used in crafting clay and glazing ceramics.

Equipment Needed for Ceramics

1. Kiln: This is an oven-like chamber used for firing finished ceramic wares.
2. Pig mill: This is used for the pouring and mixing of clay.
3. Jigger Jolly: This is a type of machine made with moulds of various shapes for the creation
of uniform pieces and the mass production of ceramic wares.
4. Throwing wheel: This is equipment used for building up forms to any height and for the
mass production of ceramic wares. There are two types of throwing wheel: the electrical and
manual types.

Methods of Ceramic Production

1. Coil method: This involves rolling out clay into coils or rolls and then building up forms by
rolling the clay rope round in spiral form until the required form is obtained. The layers are
then blended properly into one another. This is the commonest method that provides uniform
thickness right from the beginning. Coil method is more applicable to making circular objects.
2. Slab Method: This involves cutting clay into slabs of required shapes. The shapes are joined
together to form angular objects and is bound with clay slip or paste (slurry) when wet.
3. Scoop method: This involves scooping out excess clay from a lump of clay that has been
shaped out into a required form.
4. Pinch method: This involves shaping clay lump into a ball and using the tip of your thumb to
open and widen the interior while supporting the exterior with your other hand.
5. Mould method: This involves building up a form from lump (as a prototype) and making a
mould from which a number of such form can be produced.

Note: (1) A mould is made with Plaster of Paris ( P.O.P ). This is a white powder made into a paste which
hardens after some minutes.

(2) Moulds make it possible to create uniform pieces.

6. Throwing method: This is done by firmly resting both hands on a lump of already processed clay
on the turner of the throwing wheel, while it rotates slowly to allow you centralize the clay as the form
builds up to the desired shape and height. This method is purely for the mass production of ceramic
wares.

Note: (1) A combination of two or three methods can be used to produce one form.

(2) A person who makes or designs ceramic wares is called a ceramist.

7|Page
 Firing

Firing is the process of hardening shaped clay by baking or heating it in the kiln. Ceramic products
are said to be finished products after they have undergone the process of firing.

Stages of Firing

There are two stages of firing namely: First or preliminary firing and second (glaze) firing.

1. First firing known as bisque is the preliminary firing of wares to harden them for glazing. The
first firing is set at a temperature of 700oC.
2. Second firing known as glaze firing is the second and last stage of firing wares after glaze
has been applied to them. The second (glaze) firing is set at a temperature of 1200 oC.

Note: Glaze is the substance that gives ceramic wares the shiny and pleasant surface texture.

Types of kiln firing

There are three types of kilns namely: Electric kilns, Gas kilns and Wood kilns
1. Electric kilns: They are the commonest type. They use electricity and always fire with the
presence of oxygen in a completely controlled environment, which yields consistent result
with glaze and replicates works.
2. Gas kilns: They use natural gas which does not allow oxygen in during firing and so, fires in
reduction. They do no allow consistency but typically yields rich, earthy colours.
3. Wood kilns (open firing): They are ancient kilns that are fueled by wood. They are labour-
intensive because they need constant re-fueling of the fire to keep the wood burning at
consistently high temperatures. Wood kilns create unique glaze when the wood ash lands
on the clay works as they are firing.

Other Terms used in Ceramics

1. Leather hard: The state of clay when most moisture has left it and it cannot be bent without
cracking.
2. Bone dry: The state of clay when physical moisture has left it and is ready for firing.
3. Green ware: Unbaked clay.
4. Bisque or Biscuit ware: Clay work that has undergone the first stage of firing but has not
been fired the second time.
5. Maturity: The temperature at which clay develops maximum hardness or the point at which
the glaze ingredients bond completely with the clay body, developing maximum resistance to
abrasion ( rubbing off ) and a pleasant surface texture.

8|Page
 INTRODUCTION TO SCULPTURE

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define sculpture.
2. mention the materials and tools needed for sculpture.
3. mention the types of sculpture.
4. make simple shapes/objects.

Sculpture is a form of fine art which involves the making of three dimensional art objects such as statues,
figures, etc., with hard or plastic materials.

The word sculpture originated from the Latin word 'sculpere' which literary means 'to carve'. Over the
years, different methods and techniques have been used to make sculptural pieces. These include
carving, modelling, casting and construction of objects, figures, etc.

Sculpture Techniques/Methods

1. Carving: This is a subtractive method which involves chipping out of unwanted areas of a solid piece
(eg. Wood) for the design to stand out in relief.

2. Modeling : This is an additive method in which forms are gradually built up to a desired shape and
height using clay, papier mache, etc.

3. Casting This involves modelling the sculpture, making a mould of the sculpture, then pouring a liquid
material such as molten metal (bronze), plastic, rubber or fiberglass into the mould to make a duplicate
sculpture. Casting allows sculptors to make copies of their work.

4. Construction: This involves forming three dimensional art objects or figures by putting together,
pieces of materials and joining them by tying, sewing, gluing or welding.

Materials and Tools used in Sculpture

Materials Tools
1. Wood. 1. Chisel
2. Stone 2. Mallet
3. Ivory 3. Saw
4. Clay 4. Knives
5. Cement 5. Gauges
6. Papier mache. 6. Adze
7. Wax. 7. Spatulas
8. Plaster 8. Metal scraper
9. Bronze 9. Sandpaper
10. Plastic 10. Hammer

11. Rubber

9|Page
 12. Fiberglass

13. Metal

14. Scraps

Types/Forms of Sculpture

1. Sculpture in the round.

2. Relief sculpture
1. Sculpture in the round: This refers to any modeled or carved piece ( object, image or figure
) that can stand by itself on a base and can be viewed from different angles. Example: statues.
Sculpture in the round usually have real three dimensionality, that is, posses height, width and
depth.
2. Relief sculpture: This refers to any sculptural work in which the figures/images, patterns or
any three dimensional work project slightly from a flat supporting background of which they are a
part of. Relief sculpture can only viewed fully from one angle. Example: carved door panels, the
bronze plaques of the Benin, etc.

There are two kinds of relief namely: Low relief and High relief.

a. Low relief (bass relief) sculpture: This is a kind of relief sculpture in which figures and
other elements stand slightly from the overall flat background. This is created by slightly carving away
material examples: wood, stone, ivory, etc, or adding material example: stripes of clay to the top of a
smooth flat surface. Low relief sculpture has two dimensionality, that is, possess height and breadth only.

b. High relief (alto relief) sculpture: This is a sculpture technique where the figures/ images or
forms project at least half or more than half of their natural depth from the background. This kind of relief
has a degree of real three dimensionality just like a proper sculpture in the round.

MARKETING OF ART PRODUCTS

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

10 | P a g e
 1. define marketing of art products.
2. mention various outlets of art products.
3. mention the various sources of fund for the production of artistic works.
4. state the determining factors of the prices of art products.

Marketing of art products is the business of advertizing, promoting and selling of art products. Marketing
develops demand for art products as well as satisfies the clients needs.

Outlets of Art Products

There are various places where art products can be sold. They are

1. Galleries
2. Exhibition grounds
3. Shops
4. Art dealers
5. Festivals
6. Hotels
7. Fair
8. Dealers

Sources of Fund for the Production of Art Products

Art works are relatively expensive to produce, and marketing of art products also requires money. An
artist however, can source for fund from the following:

1. Personal savings
2. Parents
3. Relatives
4. Individuals
5. Non-governmental organizations
6. Community organizations
7. Government

Ways of Marketing Art Products

Art products can be marketed at the following places:

1. Galleries
2. Museums
3. Offices
4. Shops
5. Exhibition grounds
6. Air ports
7. Boarders

11 | P a g e
 8. Sea port areas
9. Through hawking

Determining Factors of Prices of Art Products

The price of an art work/product is determined by the following factors:

1. Time duration of production: The length of time spent by the artist to produce the art work.
2. Intricacies of the art work: The detailed nature of the art work and the creative skills applied
to achieve the task.
3. Finishing of the art product: The neatness and packaging of the art work/product.
4. Other miscellaneous expenses: Minor or additional expenses such as transportation,
feeding, higher cost of materials, additional materials, etc, that were not in the original budget

INTRODUCTION TO LOCAL CRAFTS

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define local craft.

2. mention the types of craft and their centers of production.
3. mention the materials and tools needed for various types of craft.
4. state the functions of local crafts.

Crafts are skillful or creative jobs done with hands, tools or machines. Local crafts are indigenous items of
use produced locally. The practice and distribution of various crafts in Nigerian is chiefly dependent of the
location and availability of the raw materials needed for the craft work.

Types of Crafts and their Centre of Production

Crafts Centre of Production

1. Calabash decoration. North, Eastern and South west. Example: Oyo.

2. Leather work. Kano, Sokoto and Borno states.
3. Bead work. Bida, Ilorin, Ife and Benin.
4. Pottery. Abuja and other minor localities.
5. Cloth weaving. Imo, Kogi, Akwete, etc.
6. Mat weaving. Savannah region of Nigeria.
7. Cane weaving. Ibibio.
8. Embroidery. Hausa and Nupe communities.
9. Wood carving. Forest zone in the South.

12 | P a g e
 10. Brass work. Bida and Kano.

Materials and Tools used for Local Crafts

Materials

1. Clay for pottery.

2. Cane for cane weaving or basket weaving.
3. Palm fronds and various kinds of grasses for basket or mat weaving.
4. Yarns (thread) for cloth weaving.
5. Calabash (gourd) for calabash decoration/ carving.
6. Wood for wood work.
7. Beads for bead work.
8. Hide and skin (leather) for leather work.

Tools

1. Knives.
2. Chisel.
3. Scrapper.
4. Scissors.
5. Pliers.
6. Brushes.

Craft Products or Items

Crafts Products

1. Calabash decoration. Bowls, plates, cups, spoons, etc.

2. Pottery. Pots, bowls, plates, cups, etc.
3. Brass work. Trays, bowls, bracelets, etc.
4. Cloth weaving. Aso-oke, okene, akwete,etc.
5. Wood work. Carved stools, boxes, door panels, bowls, etc.
6. Mat weaving. Beds, carpets, seats, mats, fans, etc.
7. Cane weaving. Cane furniture such as chairs, stools, tables, etc.
8. Embroidery. Native attires such as agbada, Sokoto, Buba, etc.
9. Bead work. Flower vases, bags, crowns, belts, etc.
10. Leather work. Leather sandals, belts, bags, etc.

Functions of Crafts

1. Local crafts are made for domestic use. Example: Clay pots are used for fetching water, cooking,
storage, etc.
2. They serve religious functions (objects of worship). Example: carved images.
3. Some craft items are used for adornment. Examples: beaded jewelries, purses etc.
4. They are used for ceremonial occasions.
5. Some of them are used for rituals.

13 | P a g e
 CREATIVITY AND RISK TAKING

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define creativity and risk taking.

2. mention the processes involved in creativity.
3. mention the risks involved in the production of artistic works.

Creativity is the ability to use the imagination to originate or develop ideas that are actualized in the
production of an artistic work. Creativity also involves the tendency to recognize ideas, alternatives or
possibilities that may be useful in the production of an artistic work.

Processes Involved in Creativity

1. Conceiving the concepts (ideas): This means, forming ideas in the mind. A concept can come
unexpectedly while reading, walking, travelling, talking with people, etc. Therefore, it is important
to have a pen and paper or book anywhere you are to jot down any idea that comes into your
consciousness for immediate or later use.
2. Thinking over the concepts: This involves looking for possibilities of actualizing the concepts. It
is hard to do a really good job on anything you do not think about, so, you have to look for ideas
on how to go about the conceived ideas (concepts). This includes ideas on how to accomplish the
conceived concepts, what to do about them, where to use them (concepts), etc.
3. Elimination of Unwanted Concepts: While thinking over the concepts, so many other new ideas
will come up, some of which may not be useful or necessary. So, it is important to remove the
unwanted ideas to avoid unnecessary confusion or complexity in the actualization of the
concepts.
4. Modification of the Concepts: This involves making changes where necessary or using a better
approach to accomplish the concepts.
5. Concept Actualization: An idea (concept) can die if it is not actualized. To actualize your
concept, you will take the following steps:
a) Make good use of any useful information gathered from reading, talking, listening and
meeting with people.
b) Calculate how much time it needs to execute the concepts and break the time frames for
each phase of the project.
c) Execute the concept (idea) staying focused without distractions.

Risk Taking

Risk is any negative occurrence such as damage, injury, loss, etc, that is most likely to pose a threat to a
person or situation. Risk is caused by internal or external vulnerabilities. Vulnerability is the degree at
which one is exposed to danger or harm.

Risk is a daily occurrence in all fields of art particularly in Sculpture, Batik, Tie-dye, painting, ceramics,
carving in wood or stone, etc. The production of art works involves the use of some materials and tools

14 | P a g e
that can cause damage or injury to the artist. Examples: pointed or sharp metal tools such as knife,
needles, gauges, etc, and materials such as harmful chemicals, acids, etc.

The Risks Involved in the Production of Artistic Works

1. Burns
2. Cutting of flesh.
3. Inhaling of chemicals.
4. Fumes
5. Skin irritation from clay and chemicals or acids.
6. Poisonous colours.
7. Colour blindness through welding.
8. Back ache.
9. Neck ache.
10. Loss of resources, etc.

DRAMA CREATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF DRAMA

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define drama creation, construction of drama and rehearsal .

2. mention the kinds of drama creation.
3. mention the various drama techniques.
4. mention the processes involved in the construction of drama.
5. rehearse a drama.

Drama Creation

Drama creation/ improvisation is the act of making drama, be it written or unwritten. The drama is
structured to have flow, dramatic unity and smooth transition between scenes. That is, meaningful
dialogue that assists the development of tension, characters’ diction, consistency in characters’
relationship, smooth change from one scene to another, all aimed at releasing a powerful and convincing
message to the reader or audience.

Kinds of Drama Creation

Scripted (written) drama.

Non-scripted (unwritten) drama/ improvisation.

15 | P a g e
 1. Scripted drama: This is a kind of drama or play that is written and read from the written material
known as script. An example of written drama is “Trials of Brother Jero” by Professor Wole
Soyinka.
2. Non-scripted drama/ improvisation: This is a kind of drama done without a written script. It is
non-planned or improvisation because it is performed with little or no preparation. That is, you
make it up as you go along. You may have to practice but you just do not have a script and can
act spontaneously. An example of non-scripted drama is school drama acted in the classroom. As
improvisation, students must create a scene, speak, act, react and move without preparing. The
decisions for what to say or do are made on the spot.

Techniques of Drama Creation

1. Play writing: This simply means writing of plays. It involves the use of vivid and descriptive
language to paint pictures in the minds of the readers (imagery) while delivering information
through actions and dialogue.
2. Story-telling: This is the conveying of events in words, imageries and sounds, often by
improvisation or embellishment.
3. Songs: These are compositions for a voice or voices performed by singing. The lyrics (words
or language) of songs are typically of a poetic rhyming nature. A song may or may not be
accompanied by musical instruments. In drama, songs sometimes accompanied by dancing
can be used to tell part or the entire story. This is called music drama or opera.
4. Dance: Dance can be used as a means of expression in drama. This is called dance drama.
5. Mine: This is a kind of acting created by the use of gestures and facial expressions without
speaking. This kind of performance mostly involves dance and music.

Construction of Drama

Construction of drama is the act of making or producing a drama.

Processes Involved in Achieving a Desired Goal in Drama

1. Thinking: This involves looking for ideas or possibilities of actualizing the drama production.
This includes ideas on how to accomplish the drama _____the script to be used, where to act
the drama/ the targeted audience (the people the drama will be meant for).
2. Arrangement: This involves making plans for the costume (characters’ garments and
accessories), cast (the actors and actresses), place of rehearsal, the final production and
other aspects of production.

Rehearsing a Production

Rehearsal is a trial performance or practice of a play or drama before the actual production. It is the time
that is spent in preparation for a performance.

Rehearsing a production requires some preparations, activities during and after the exercise, and the
coordinator is the stage manager (S.M.).

16 | P a g e
 Stages of Rehearsals

1. Reading: This is the first stage of rehearsal. It is a stage when each actor/ actress reads
his/her line(s) to commit them to memory. No action or movement is involved in this stage.
The director listens to them, stops them when an error is detected and makes corrections
immediately.
2. Blocking: This is the physical arrangement of actors and actresses on a stage. The time that
the performers read and put in some body movements to demonstrate their individual lines.
3. Polishing: Polishing or ‘Run throughs’ stage comes after a long practice. This is a stage
when the performers fine-tune their performance by quickly running through their lines and
individual roles especially scenes that are yet to be perfected.
4. Complete Dress and Technical: This is the final rehearsal when all appropriate costumes,
props (objects such as chairs, tables, etc.), make-ups, lighting effects, sound, etc, necessary
for the actual production are involved. This is done to enable the directors; stage managers,
costumiers and other technical crew, test-run their equipment and put things right before
coming out to the audience.

STAGE DESIGNING AND MANAGEMENT

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define stage design and stage management.

2. state the responsibilities of a stage manager.
3. mention the types of stage design.
4. design a stage.

Stage Design

Stage or scenic design is the art of creating the visual image of a stage production through sets or
scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, etc.

Stage design centers on the production of conceptual ideas with visual elements that are aimed
towards supporting the content and values of a drama. A stage designer works with the director and
other designers to create the stage environment by establishing an overall visual concept for the
production.

Stage Management

Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It is a sub-
discipline of stage craft.

17 | P a g e
 Activities involved in stage management include planning the production and coordinating
communication between various personnel. Example: between the director (s) and back stage crew,
actors and production manager, etc.

Responsibilities of a Stage Manager (S. M.)

A stage manager (S.M.) is one who has overall responsibility for stage management and the smooth
execution of a production. He is the head traffic controller of a live theatre or television production.

The stage manager assumes full command of the physical stage after the director has issued his final
notes of the cast.

The stage manager takes the following responsibilities:

1. He (the stage manager) is the most visible person back stage and on stage because the
various technical crews such as lighting, sound, props, etc, report directly to him.
2. He remains in constant communication with the director by in-house phone or handset
3. He is responsible for fixing rehearsal times, ensures that rehearsals run on time and
documents each rehearsal on rehearsal report.
4. He ensures cast members (actors and actresses) stay on script, have the necessary props
and follow the blocking during rehearsals. He records the timing of the lighting, sound and set
change as it relates to the script and other aspects of the performance.
5. He issues verbal ‘stand by’ and ‘prompt script’ on the day of final production.

Note: For a large production requiring a stage management team, the manager is responsible for calling
the show (prompt calls) while other team members operate back stage to ensure that actors and crew are
ready to perform their duties. Stage management team consists of head stage manager or production
manager and one or more assistant stage manager (s).

Types of Stage Design

There are three major types of stage or stage design namely: Proscenium stage, Thrust stage and Arena
stage.

1. Proscenium stage: This is a stage that has a primary feature known as proscenium arch ( that
is, a large opening ) through which the audience faces the stage. The proscenium arch forms a
frame for the stage where the curtain is opened, closed and parted between acts and scenes.
The stage is typically raised several feet above front row audience level. The audience directly
faces the stage and as such, views only one side of the scene. A typical proscenium consists of
up-stage, centre-stage and down-stage.

2. Thrust stage: This is a type of stage that extends into the audience space so that the audience is
located on three sides. Thrust stage is connected to the back stage area by its upstage end. The
thrust stage design gives it the benefit of greater intimacy between the audience and the
performers than a proscenium.

18 | P a g e
 3. Arena stage or theatre in the round: This type of stage is characterized by a central stage with
the audience sitting round and facing it from all sides. This brings the audience quite close to the
action, making them have a feeling of intimacy and involvement.

Note: When planning a drama, it is important to think about how to stage the performance (drama ) and
what type of stage or stage design to use.

DRAMATISTS AND PLAWRIGHTS

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to

1. define a dramatist.
2. mention the types of dramatists.
3. differentiate between a dramatist and a playwright.

A dramatist is a person who writes a dramatic literature. He is also known as a playwright.

Types of Dramatists/ Playwrights

19 | P a g e
 1. The live theatre playwrights/ dramatists: They are the people who create stories to be
performed in front of a live theatre audience. Their works (that is, plays or dramas ) are referred
to as stage plays.
2. The screen playwrights/ dramatists: They are the people who create stories to be portrayed in
film and television. Their works are referred to as screen plays.
3. The radio playwrights/ dramatists: They are the people who write plays to be told on radio,
either by one person or a by a group.

Differences Between Playwrights and Dramatists

A playwright can also be called a dramatist but there is a slight difference in the context of a playwright
and a dramatist.

A playwright is the author of a play ( that is, a literary composition written in acts and scenes meant to be
staged ) while a dramatist who can also be an author of a play, is one who is well versed with the
rudiments and principles of dramaturgy ( that is, the kind of drama, the type of stage to be used, the
nature of the characters, the costume that fits the characters, the music to be played, etc.). In other
words, a dramatist is one who can write and produce a play as well as take a characters role in the play.

Playwright Dramatist

1. A playwright is just the author of a play. A dramatist is the author and producer of a play.
2. He/she is not versed in the rudiments He/ she can produce a play as well as take a
and principles of drama and so, cannot character’s role in the play.
produce a play .

Note: A playwright is also a dramatist when he composes (writes) the play and can also produce the play.

20 | P a g e
21 | P a g e