Ndabe 1,2,11

Ade 3, 4, 12
Chloe 5, 6, 13
Ryan 7, 8, 14
Amie 9, 10

DRAMA SUMMARY NOTES

Ndabe pg 1 and 2
Drama is an art that uses action to bring stories to life by people pretending to be in another
person's shoes and exploring their environment.

Stage layout and direction

Upstage: part of the stage furthest from the audience

Downstage: part of the stage closest to the audience
Stage left: left side of the stage (actor's right side)
Stage right: right side of the stage (actor's left side)

Types of performances

Plays are the most popular type of performance. Plays can be modern, humorous,
sad. Plays can be done anywhere.

Improvisation is when you think of your own line without the script which is used
when an actor forgets their lines or there has been a change to the play.

Skits are quick comedy acts that are made to make the audience laugh. They are
normally seen on talent shows.

Monologues are when the actor speaks directly to the audience and is done solo.
This is done to create a personal connection with the audience.

Mimes are when you act out a story without speaking and only using actions or
expressions.

Tablaux is when someone freezes like a statue to tell a story. This is done so that the
audience can live in the moment.

Ade pg 3
Melondrama: Predecessor to Realism. It has heroes, villains and heroes always win.
Instruments used to portray complex emotions.
Low comedy: Physical humour and relatable, amusing situations. Makes you laugh aloud.
High comedy: Intelligent and brilliant humour, it provokes thought.
Radio Adverts: Audio ads that market goods and services, they grab the listeners attention.
Cartoon voice Acting: Giving animated characters or video game characters voices.
Middle Eastern Theatre: Traditional and Modern productions that originate in Middle Eastern
nations.
Puppetry: Stories told through objects or dolls called puppets.

Basic warm ups

Physical warm ups: Relaxing your muscles, Breathing warm ups, used to centre and relax
your body. Helps actors achieve a natural position, straight posture.
Vocal warm ups: Exercising our pitch (high, medium, or low). Humming then going a note
higher after 5 seconds, this warms up your vocal chords.

Ade pg 4

Improvisational games:

Yes and: collaborate with others to construct a story by accepting each other's suggestions,
starting each sentence with yes and, or no but.
Word association: Forming a circle and saying 1 word, as the game progresses the other
participants must say a word that relates to the previous word, without repetitions.

Benefits of dramatic arts

Collaboration: To put on an amazing show you need to collaborate with other people.
Creativity: Let your mind wonder, drama is an opportunity to express your creativity.
Confidence: SWhen you speak in front of an audience, you gain confidence through drama.

Jesus used parables

Engaging through the audience: Jesus was able to hold his listeners interests and spark
their imagination, he used vivid descriptions and relatable characters.

Chloe pg 5

Mime:The current form of mime, which was influenced by Marcel Marceau, first appeared in
France in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mime is an ancient Greek and Roman dance genre
that began in festivals and street performances.Mimes are identified by their exaggerated
actions, imaginary props, silent performance, and simplistic black costume, which
emphasises movements and themes reflecting daily life or dramatic moments.
Ryan pg 7

Black and White Theatre. This theatre style is characterised by its minimalistic sets,
costumes, and props, using only black and white elements. It focuses on the contrast
between light and dark to emphasise storylines and characters. Originating from early
20th-century experimental theatre movements, it aims to strip theatre down to its essentials,
highlighting acting and storytelling while using symbolism to convey themes like conflict and
duality. Identifying features include simple design, focus on acting, high contrast lighting, and
a clutter-free stage.

Ryan pg 8

Praise Poetry and Vocal Communication.A traditional African storytelling form, praise poetry
celebrates individuals or events through expressive, rhythmic language. Originating from
indigenous African cultures, particularly in Southern and Western Africa, and exemplified by
Zulu Praise Poetry (Izibongo), this form uses rich imagery and strong vocal projection. It is
often celebratory, rhythmic, and repetitive, making it memorable and impactful.
Performances may be accompanied by music or dance, enhancing the experience.

Amie pg 9

Techniques for effective vocal communication

Projection - Speaking loudly
Articulation - Pronouncing clearly
Modulation - Changing pitch and tone to convey emotion Pausing - To add dramatic effect
Improvisation
Acting without a script and making up the dialogue and actions, actors use the
circumstances they are given
Origin
Improvisation has roots in ancient theatre practices
Identifying factors
Spontaneous
Given circumstances
Subcontext
No pre-written script
Focus on listening and reacting
Exploration of unexpected or humorous situations
Creating a scene(Stanislavski)
This method also known as the system involves creating
realistic and believable scenes by understanding the characters motivations and emotions

Amie pg 10
 Origin
Developed by Konstantin Stanislavski, a Russian theatre practitioner in the early 20th
century
Identifying factors
Detailed character analysis Use of emotional memory
Naturalistic acting Motivation
Realism theatre
Focuses on everyday life and believable characters, situations and dialogues it aims to
represent life accurately

Ndabe pg 11
Origin

Started in the late 19th century as a reaction to melodrama or romanticism.

Identifying factors

Realistic dialogue and situations : reflects real life or everyday situation and uses
that era's language.

Naturalistic acting styles: no dramatic performance and is believable.

Detail and authentic set design: recreating everyday places

True to life: portrays common people and their everyday struggles.

Complex characters: characters with motivation and real emotions

Greek Theatre

Originates from ancient Greek and is both tragedy or comedy (tragedy sad, comedy
happy). 5th century BC is when it was created

Ade Pg 12

Core elements of greek theatre

Theatre structure: Wide open air structures, built into hillsides, semi circle orchestra, a
backdrop building and seating.
Chorus: Performers who commented on the action, provided background information,
essential in tragedies and comedies.
Masks and costumes: Masks were used to portray different characters' emotions. Costumes
showed character roles.
Themes: Fate, Gods, Heroism, Morality, and human nature.
Key playwrights

Sophocles: Made, Oepidus Rex and Antigone, Introduced the use of a third actor, reducing
the role of the chorus, and focusing on character development.
Euripides: Made, Media and the Bacchae, Known for complex characters and exploration of
physiological motivations.
Aristophames: Made Lysistrata and the frogs, was Master of old comedy, commented on
social, political and cultural issues.

Chloe pg 13

Black and white theatre:The black and white colour scheme of the minimalist design
highlights acting as a symbol of moral differences, duality, and conflict. A strong visual effect
is produced by minimal, uncluttered staging and high contrast lighting.

Ndabe keywords

Keywords:
Dialogue: The spoken words of the characters in a play or performance.
Blocking: The planned movements and positions of actors on stage. It includes where actors
stand, move, and interact with each other and the set.
Rehearsal: Practice sessions where actors and directors work on scenes, lines, and
movements to prepare for a performance.
Props: Objects used by actors during a performance to enhance the storytelling. Props can
include items like furniture, weapons, or personal belongings.
Costume: Clothing worn by actors to portray their characters. Costumes help define the time
period, social status, and personality of the characters.
Set Design: The visual elements on stage that create the environment and setting of the
play. Set design includes scenery, furniture, decorations, and backdrops.
Lighting: The use of light to illuminate the stage, create mood, focus attention, and
enhance visibility. Lighting is an essential part of stagecraft and can dramatically affect
the atmosphere of a performance.
Staging: How a performance space is arranged.
Masks: Worn by actors to show different characters or emotions.
Backstage hands: People who work behind the scenes to keep things running.
Ensemble: The group of actors working together
Designer: Personal responsible for the visual and aural elements
Director: The person who puts the performance together and co-ordinates all elements.
Non-verbal cues are expressions and indications that are used to communicate without
using words. Body language, tone of voice, gestures, and facial expressions are
examples of non-verbal clues.