‘Australian plays make ordinary situations and issues more interesting by the way they are

staged.’ Discuss to what extent theatrical techniques and styles are used to entertain and
challenge an audience in the Australian drama that you have studied.

How do Australian plays encourage audiences to feel empathy for the outsider? In your answer,
refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.

How is the audience experience of a play affected by the space in which it is performed? In your
answer, refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.

Compare how the plays that you have studied use the development of tension to take their
audience on a particular journey. In your answer, refer to your study and experience of AT
LEAST TWO texts set for study.

Discuss how the ideas and images in the plays you have studied might be presented in this
theatre space. In your answer, refer to your study and experience of TWO of the texts set for
study.

How could the personal and social tensions between characters in the plays you have studied
be expressed on stage? In your answer, refer to the performance styles, techniques and
conventions that you could use in staging TWO texts set for study.

How does Australian drama and theatre stage a range of the different individual experiences
found in Australian society? In your answer, refer to the dramatic forms, performance styles,
techniques and the conventions of Australian Drama and Theatre and in particular to your
study and experience of TWO texts set for study.

‘Australian plays have been concerned with questions of belonging — to another person, to a
family, to a social group, to society.’ Discuss this statement with reference to the performance
styles and dramatic forms and conventions of the Australian plays you have studied. In your
answer, refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the topic you have studied.

‘Australian plays explore the different ways people cope when things change or go wrong.’
Discuss this statement, with reference to the dramatic forms, styles and conventions of the
plays you have studied, showing how Australian plays put changing circumstances on the stage,
and how the characters respond. In your answer, refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the topic
you have studied.
‘The ideas in Australian plays are dull. It is the images that bring them to life.’ Discuss this
statement, showing how Australian theatre practitioners engage their audiences through
varying theatrical styles and techniques. In your answer, refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for
the topic you have studied.

How are the dramatic forms and theatrical techniques of the plays you have studied used to
portray the struggles of the characters? In your answer, refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the
topic you have studied.

How are audiences made to engage with and understand Australia’s cultural issues and the
personal concerns of the characters on the stage? In your answer, refer to your study and
experience of TWO texts set for the topic.

How could the Australian plays you have studied be staged to communicate distinctly
Australian values and attitudes? In your answer, refer to the dramatic forms, performance
styles, techniques and conventions of Australian Drama and Theatre and in particular to your
study and experience of TWO texts.

‘Australian plays make ordinary situations and issues more interesting by the way they are
staged.’ Discuss to what extent theatrical techniques and styles are used to entertain and
challenge an audience in the Australian drama that you have studied. In your answer you
should refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the topic you have studied.

‘The weakness of Australian drama is that it relies on stereotyped characters to explore serious
social and personal issues.’ Discuss this statement, considering the challenges and
opportunities for people staging productions of the plays you have studied. In your answer you
should refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the topic you have studied.

How does the Australian drama you have studied use particular forms and conventions to
explore significant experiences of living in this country? In your answer you should refer to AT
LEAST TWO texts set for the topic you have studied.

How have Australian playwrights uniquely expressed their perspective on community?

Australian theatre is made distinctive in its abstract portrayal of powerful imagery. To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

How have Australian playwrights transformed everyday experiences into engaging and
powerful theatre?
Australian theatre has always stood outside of the tradition. It has challenged convention and
twisted expression to create a vision of Australia which is confronting and unique. How have
you captivated audiences through the unique conventions of the style?

Australia theatre exists to show us our true selves. To expose hidden truths and share the raw
experiences of those around us. How has the immersive experience of Australian theatre been
expressed on stage?

How has your experience of Australian theatre developed your understanding of struggle?

2019 HSC:

How do characters’ experiences create an atmosphere on stage which reflects Australian

society?

In your response, refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.

2018 HSC:

How do Australian theatre practitioners create images of a specific time and place to influence
an audience’s response to cultural issues and concerns?

In your answer, refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.

2017 HSC:

How do Australian plays encourage audiences to feel empathy for the outsider?

In your answer, refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.

2015 HSC:
How is the audience experience of a play affected by the space in which it is performed?

In your answer, refer to your study and experience of at least TWO plays in this topic.
2014 HSC:
Compare how the plays that you have studied use the development of tension to take their
audience on a particular journey.

In your answer, refer to your study and experience of AT LEAST TWO texts set for study.

2013 HSC:
‘Audiences are not only entertained; they are made to engage with the social concerns
explored in plays.’

Discuss this view with reference to your study and experience of TWO of the texts set for study.