Year 9

Evaluating stagecraft - ensemble acting

In this lesson, we will focus on ensemble acting, examining how actors working together can create effective moments for an audience.

Year 9

Evaluating stagecraft - ensemble acting

In this lesson, we will focus on ensemble acting, examining how actors working together can create effective moments for an audience.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, students will watch a further short extract from a theatre production and analyse multiple aspects of the stagecraft - such as the performances, direction, use of space and design elements. They will develop a holistic analytical response, developing knowledge of how to evaluate and form a summative response.

Content guidance

  • Physical activity required.

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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5 Questions

Q1.
What is an ensemble?
A collective noun for a group of theatre designers.
Correct answer: A group of performers who work together on stage.
The staff who run the theatre.
Q2.
What is the term for movement done at the same time by a group of performers?
Canon
Correct answer: Unison
Q3.
What does evaluate mean?
Correct answer: Come to a judgement about the success of something.
Explain why choices were made.
Give an account of something.
Q4.
What is the name for the front of the stage nearest the audience?
Correct answer: Downstage.
Front stage.
Upstage.
Q5.
Which list below contains a range of acting skills?
Correct answer: Facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact.
Gel, gauze, cyclorama, spotlight.
Pitch, pace, tempo, reverb, echo.

5 Questions

Q1.
In Naturalistic theatre, ...
Correct answer: Everything on stage is designed to mirror real life.
Everything you hear is a true story.
Q2.
What was the effect created by the performer singing about mercy whilst the children were suffering?
Correct answer: Irony.
Pathetic fallacy.
Tragedy.
Q3.
What is the name in Drama for the heightened position that Mr Brocklehurst and the singer were in?
Fly system.
Correct answer: Levels.
Platforms.
Q4.
What is the name of movements which are all done in unison?
Correct answer: Choral movement.
Dance.
Physical theatre.
Q5.
Which is the correct definition of physical theatre?
Correct answer: A style of theatre where the actors use their bodies to create objects instead of props.
A style of theatre where the audience follow the actors around the performance space.
A type of theatre where everything mirrors real life.