GCSE Performing Arts

Toot Hill School

Section A – Acting Workshop

Page Number / Content of Page / Planning & Research / Skills Development / Work related aspects / Evaluation
Page 1 / Front Cover
Page 2 / First Audit Sheet /  / 
Page 3a / Evaluation of Mental Warm Ups /  / 
Page 3b / Evaluation of Mental Warm Ups /  / 
Page 4a / Evaluation of Physical Warm Ups /  / 
Page 4b / Evaluation of Physical Warm Ups / 
Page 5 / Stanislavski Research /  /  /  / 
Page 6 / Rehearsal Skills – Tool Box Explained / 
Page 7 / Rehearsal Skills- Tool Box Used and Evaluated /  / 
Page 8a / Developing Character: Role on the Wall Character Study /  /  /  / 
Page 8b / Developing Character: Hot-Seating Reflection Chart /  / 
Page 8c / Developing Character: Evaluation of Characterisation /  /  /  / 
Page 8d / Developing Character: Evaluation (continued)
Page 9a / Annotated Scriptfor Monologue/Duologue /  /  / 
Page 9b / Annotated Script (continued) /  / 
Page10 / Talk from a Professional Actor/Director /  / 
Page 11a / Final Evaluation of Acting Workshop / 
Page 11b / Final Evaluation (continued) / 
Page 12 / Witness Statement Sheet /  / 
Page 13 / Second Audit Sheet /  / 

Page 1: Front Cover

On this page you need to ensure that you have the following information:

The title:Acting Workshop

Your name:[Whatever it is]

Then leave a gap and write:

Course name:GCSE in Performing Arts (Single Award)

Your school:Toot Hill School

Your centre number:28308

Try to make your title page look professional in its layout and style.

Page 2: First Audit Sheet[Skills Development and Evaluation]

ou need to complete an acting audit sheet which is available on thispage of the booklet. It is designed to record what you know at the start of the course. Cut it out, mount it on a sheet of coloured paper or card and include it on page 2 of your portfolio.

Remember to include the heading above at the top of your page.

Knowledge/skill

/ Used /

Evidence

Warming up
Conduct at rehearsals
Body & spatial awareness
Characterisation (Developing characters)
Interpretation of script
Improvised work
Acting from stimulus
Dramatic devices & rehearsal techniques
Using technical aspects (e.g. lighting and sound) to enhance performances
How to rehearse effectively
Researching other performances
Health & Safety – preparation, performing and clearing up
An actor backstage
Working with props & costume
Working with masks
Reflecting on performing to a live audience
Reflecting on watching a live performance

Pages 3a & 3b : Mental Warm Ups[Skills Development & Professional Conduct]

In the acting workshop you will learn up to 5 practical mental warm up exercises. Firstly remember to include the heading above at the top of your page.

You then need to describe each warm up and include a photo of your group doing the warm up.

You might wish to lay it out like this:

Warm up / Descripion / Photo
Zap Zing Block / In the drama game style warm up the group gets into a circle and and electricity bolt is passed around. You can only pass it on to the next person by using the word ‘Zap’. If you want to fire it across the room you have to say ‘Zing’ and then the persons name you are firing it at. Finally that person can block a ‘Zing’ by saying block and the bolt returns to the person who had fired it and thay must ‘Zap’ it away. People are knoked out if they are too slow or they get confused and do and say the wrong thing /
Etc
Etc
Etc
Etc

Then you need to have a second section entitled:

Mental Warm Ups [Work Related Aspects]

Once you have described each of the mental warm ups you need to do the following:

Explain how each of the mental warm ups you tried helped you to be more ready and prepared to start your Drama lesson.

Explain why you think each of the mental warm ups you have done might be used in professional theatre to help actors prepare for rehearsals and performances and how you think they would be effective.

Pages 4a & 4b: Physical Warm Ups[Skills Development & Professional Conduct]

In the workshop you will learn up to 5 practical physical warm up exercises. Firstly remember to include the heading above at the top of your page.

You then need todescribe each warm up and include a photo of the group doing the warm up.

You might wish to lay it out like this:

Warm up / Descripion / Photo
Eight Shakes / Eight shakes involves you shaking your left arm, then right arm, left leg then right leg and then doing them all at the same time (except the legs!). You can repeat this as often as needed during a physical warm up session. /
Etc
Etc
Etc
Etc

Then you need to have a second section entitled:

Physical Warm Ups [Work Related Aspects]

Once you have described each of the mental warm ups you need to do the following:

Explain how each of the physical warm ups you tried helped you to be more ready and prepared to start your Drama lesson.

Explain why you think each of the physical warm ups you have done might be used in professional theatre to help actors prepare for rehearsals and performances and how you think they would be effective.

Page 5: Stanislavski Research [Planning & Research and Skills Development]

On this page you need to research the life and work of Constantin Stanislavski. Don’t just type his name into Google and print what comes out. This page needs to be well presented and IN YOUR OWN WORDS. NO MARKS FOR CUTTING AND PASTING!!!

Researching Constantin Stanislavski
Who was Stanislavski?
Why did he create his acting ‘system’?
Describe at least three rehearsal techniques that Stanislavski developed:
Describe how you have used some of Stanislavski’s rehearsal techniques in your work:

Page 6: Rehearsal Skills: Tool Box Explained [Skills Development]

On this page you will need to redraw and complete the diagram below using the information provided for you in the lesson. Make sure your notes are detailed. If you don’t write down what each of them are you will forget.

Also make sure you use the heading above.

Rehearsal Process

Page 7: Rehearsal Skills: Tool Box Used and Evaluated[Planning, Research & Evaluation]

On this page you need to explain and evaluate how you have used the tool box techniques in the practical workshop using a scripted piece of work.

Remember, the more you say and themore detail you go into, the better. Use the heading above at the top of your page.

Tool Box Technique / What I did…
(Planning and Research) / How well did it work?
(Evaluation)
Given circumstances / At the start of the process when I needed to find what information was in the script about Mickey….
I also used this technique when I was devising a character of my own to begin to form a picture of him…. / I could understand how my character felt about others and what others said about me. This gave me a clear idea of the relationships he had with others on stage
This technique enabled me to begin to form the building blocks and the foundations of the character. Without these the character could not develop further.
Hot seating / I used this to develop the given circumstances further with my scripted character
With my improvised character I used this technique to deepen the information I already had. / It forced me to react to situations in character, giving me a more 3 dimensional understanding of my performance.
I also began to think about my physicalisation & vocalisation. For example, I began to sit on the edge of my seat and fidget with my hands and feet. This helped me to show….
It helped me react to others in character. For example….
Etc
Etc
Etc

Page 8a:Characterisation: Duologues[Planning, Skills, Work and Evaluation]

Developing Character: Role on the Wall Character Study

On this page you need to include a Role on the Wall Character Study for your character. Make sure you include a clear title and key for your Role on the Wall.

Page 8b: Characterisation: Duologues [Planning, Skills, Work and Evaluation]

Developing Character: Hot Seating

On this page you need to include your Hot-Seating Reflection Chart, typed up neatly using your notes from the Hot-Seating exercise you did in class. (See the next page to help you)

Page 8b: Characterisation: Developing my Character through Hot-Seating

Hot Seating Reflection Chart

What have I found out about my character from Hot Seating? / How will I use this piece of information in developing my character? / In what specific scenes or moments in the play will I be able to employ this?
Think about what you have learnt about your character in terms of emotional responses to what you have said. / Try to respond to this question using as many keywords as possible for voice and movement. To achieve higher understanding (and grades) link this question to the previous question. / Respond to this question by directly looking at the play or script and explaining what you are going to do vocally, physically, facially and spatially to convey your character’s emotions.

Pages 8c/8d: Characterisation: Duologues: Evaluation of Characterisation

In this section you are going to evaluate your approach to acting in a duologue. This will require you to use all the skills you have developed throughout the acting workshop and apply them in a performance situation. You must try to write a detailed account of the process (aim to write at least one paragraph for each bullet point.)

What I learned about developing a character

In this first paragraph you need to discuss who your character was, the details of the character given to you in the play and how you researched and developed your understanding of your character further.

You now need to explain how you made sense of the situation your character was in through research or personal experience. Discuss how you tried to relate to your character and how you used the Emotion Memory technique to try to understand their situtaion and the emotions they feel throughout the scene.

You should discuss how you imagined their movement (physicalisation), the way they spoke (vocalisation) and their relationship with other characters. Explain how you used blocking, physical levels, proxemics, body language and eye contact to show your character’s status on stage as well as their relationship with the other character in the scene.

What I learned about rehearsing professionally

Discussand evaluate the warm up techniques you used at the start or end of each rehearsal.

Now talk about what you did in rehearsals. Discussthe tool box techniques you applied and explainhow well they worked for you in helping you to understand and develop your character. In this section you must evaluate how effective you found:

- Role play (off-text improvisations)

- Hot-Seating

- Deciding on your character’s Given Circumstances

- Using the Emotion Memory technique

- Separating your duologue into Units and Objectives

- Using the Thought-Tracking technique to help you explore the subtext in the scene.

Now discuss how you developed your understanding of your character through rehearsing and changing the way you performed the piece.

Performance and evaluation

Finally, you need to evaluate the rehearsal process. Explain what you found worked best for you in rehearsals, what didn’t work well and what you have learned about developing characterisation skills as an actor.

Nowevaluate your performance. Talk about whether what you planned and developed in rehearsal actually worked on stage and whether you managed to communciate your character successfully to an audience.

Finally, outline what things you would do differentlynext time you develop a character. Choose at least 3 targets in this area.

Pages 9a & 9b: Annotated Script [Planning & Research and Skills Development]

Please include an annotated (that means used and written on) copy of your script on the following pages. Remember to include the heading above.

Include a key for your annotations to make it clear exactly where you have used the various rehearsal techniques from the actor’s toolbox.

E.g:

and any other techniques you have used in rehearsal.

You also need to include annotations about your use of vocal, physical and facial expression, staging, entrances and exits etc.

Page 10: Talk from a professional actor [Skills Development & Work Related Aspects]

Use the heading above and the table below to record notes from the talk given by a professional actor. Alternatively, you may wish to present the talk in a script format.

Acting Record Sheet
Date :
Venue:
Speaker:
Roles and Responsibilities
Work Experience
Qualifications
General Notes

Pages 11a & 11b: Final Evaluation of Acting Workshop[Skills Development and Evaluation]

Use the heading above and the table below to record and evaluate your experiences during the acting workshop. This final evaluation should contain lots of detailed examples of your own work and be 2 pages in length.

Check List / What I have learnt…
(Skills Development) / How I can use it in future…
(Evaluation)
Warm Ups / During the warm up section of the workshop I learnt 10 different warm up tecniques, 5 mental and 5 physical. The most useful mental warm up was Zap Zing Block and the most useful physical warm up was Eight shakes. This was because they were easy to understand and fun to do. / I never really understood how inportant warm ups were in the rehearsal process. Not only do they help you focus and get into the rehearsal but they also allow you to relax and help you to develop character details.
In future I intend to use warms when we are developing role plays and preparing for performances.
Tool Box Techniques
Performing a character (mono/duo)
Stanislavski research

Page 12: Witness Statement Sheet[Skills Development & Work Related Aspects]

Use this sheet to record witness statements to confirm that you have completed the Acting Workshop. One witness should be a member of staff; the other two should be fellow students you have worked with. Remember to include the heading as well as the witness statements in your portfolio.

Witness Statement One
Name:
Date:
Statement:
Witness Statement Two
Name;
Date:
Statement:
Witness Statement Three
Name:
Date:
Statement:

Page 13: Second Audit Sheet[Skills Development and Evaluation]

You need to complete a second acting audit sheet which is available on this page of the booklet. It is designed to record what you have learnt during the workshop. Include it in your coursework but…

DO NOT FILL THIS IN UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE GCSE COURSE

Knowledge/skill

/ Used /

Evidence

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