Performance Analysis 20 marks Only one question on question paper.

(1 Mark) – Example of technique that relates to first part of question and analysis. (1 mark) –Analysis of the dramatic impact and what it achieved for YOU. 10 Paragraphs!

Analyse the extent to which two of the following helped to communicate themes and ideas in a theatrical presentation that you have seen recently. Acting Set design Lighting Sound Your analysis must include details of how it impacted you

Structure A mark (1) – Understanding of the question e Structure A mark (1) – Understanding of the question e.g state one of the themes of the play and Analyse the techniques the actor/director/designer used to convey it to the audience. B mark (1) – How it impacted on you as an audience member. X 10

Example of acting techniques and what to write about in the analysis Example of acting techniques and what to write about in the analysis. You should be writing about… -The quality of characterisation - The number of parts the actor plays - The different ways that the actor uses his/her Voice - The different ways that the actor uses his/her movement - The relationship between spoken text and physical movement or gesture - Interaction with other actors throughout the performance - dramatic monologues, dialogue, stage directions, other proxemics. - Working as an ensemble - The actor’s use of props - The actor/audience relationship – soliloquy, aside etc. - Changes in mood/atmosphere

Example of how set design helps communicate themes and ideas, and analysis. You should be writing about… - Period and location - The set – the scenery, furniture, and decorations used. They may be illusionistic, stylised, or realistic in their representation. - Colour flats, stage cloth, back cloths, cyclorama, hue, saturation, texture. - A representational approach - Use of abstract ideas - Use of expressionistic ideas - The use of furniture and set dressing – the positioning, dimensions, fabric, colours etc. - Changes in mood/atmosphere

Example of how lighting helps communicate themes and ideas Example of how lighting helps communicate themes and ideas. You should be writing about… - Period - Time and place - Abstract lighting - Naturalistic lighting - The part lighting plays in the creation of expectation; building tension; releasing tension - The part lighting plays in conveying the structure - The part lighting plays in conveying the genre - The part lighting plays in portraying themes/issues/message - Symbolism - How lighting affects characterisation -How lighting creates mood and atmosphere

Analysis of dramatic impact and what it achieved to enhance YOUR understanding … Contributed to the flow of the drama Contributed to the staging Contributed to the overall purpose/message/themes Contributed to the emotional response Contributes to the awareness of issues e.g. social, cultural etc. Contributed to characterisation and character relationships.

Analysis of dramatic impact and how it enhanced your understanding … - Your self-image - Interaction with other audience members and the performance - Willingness to interact and remain open (the fourth wall) - Willing suspension of disbelief (verisimilitude of the drama) - Sympathies and empathy towards characters and relationships - Identification with characters and events - Identification with common human experiences - Acknowledgement of relevance within your own life and/or culture and society - Physical expression of emotional reaction (catharsis)

A moment in the play which powerfully conveyed the theme of repression was when Andy confronted Mrs Wilson about the fact that St Philomena had been dropped as a Saint. When Andy comes home drunk because his frustration has spilled over, the actor uses the relationship between pitch and physical movement very well in that his unstable pitch, and unstable balance perfectly match the instability of his emotions at the time. His dethroning of St Philomena does not provide him with the upper hand, over Mrs Wilson, that he had hoped for; instead it spells the end of his relationship with Hanna who proclaims “ You’ll regret this day Andy Tracey.. You’ll regret it as long as you live.” His outburst is due to the repressed living circumstances which symbolises the repression forced upon Catholics at the time, therefore contributing to the overall message of the play. This inspired my sympathy towards Andy, who’s life has been destroyed by the circumstances of culture and society. It also made me reflect on my own culture and society, and how repression affects my life, and this is what helped enhance my understanding of the play as a whole. (Not all of this is essential – it would take forever to write a performance analysis essay with paragraphs this long. This example is designed to provide the different possibilities for a paragraph in response to the question at the beginning of the power point.)