FORM STRUCTURE PURPOSE

FORM

Form is the overall style of your drama, the way it is both created and presented. THE FOLLOWING ARE FORMS:

Documentary style drama including reconstruction of events DOCUDRAMA

FORUM THEATRE The audience suggests changes to the drama in order to affect its outcomes

Stylised movement creating the illusion of reality MIME

Angels in America By Tony Kushner HANNAH: (lost, talking to a homeless person) Excuse me? I said excuse me? Can you tell me where I am? Is this Brooklyn? Do you know of a Pineapple Street? Is there some sort of bus or train or...? I'm lost, I just arrived from Salt Lake City. I took the bus that I was told to take and I got off - well it was the very last stop, so I had to get off, and I asked the driver was this Brooklyn, and he nodded yes but he was from one of those foreign countries where they think it's good manners to nod at everything even if you have no idea what it is you're nodding at, and in truth I think he spoke no English at all, which I think would make him ineligible for employment on public transportation. The public being English-speaking mostly. Do you speak English? I was supposed to be met at the airport by my son. He didn't show and I don't wait more than three and three-quarters hours for anyone. I should have been patient, I guess...Is this Brooklyn? The Bronx!?! Well how in the name of Heaven did I get to the Bronx, when the bus driver said...? Can you just tell me where I...? I don't know what you're... Shut up. Please. Now I want you to stop jabbering for a minute, and pull your wits together and tell me how to get to Brooklyn. Because you know! And you are going to tell me! Because there is no one else around to tell me and I am wet and cold and I am very angry! So I am sorry you're psychotic but just make the effort! Take a deep breath! DO IT! (Inhales with the crazy woman.) That's good. Now exhale. (Exhales with the crazy woman.) Good. Now. How do I get to Brooklyn? MONOLOGUE Performed by single actor

Use of the body as means of communication MOVEMENT

MUSICAL Play with songs

PANTOMIME

DRAMA CREATED WITHOUT A SCRIPT WHICH IS REHEARSED BEFORE PRESENTATION (most of the dramas you have created in the drama room..) REHEARSED IMPROVISATION

JULIET O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. ROMEO [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? JULIET 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself. SCRIPT

STRUCTURE

THERE ARE ONLY 2 STRUCTURES LINEAR: BEGINNING MIDDLE END or chronological – moves only forward in time NON LINEAR: JUMPING AROUND IN TIME Start with end, flashback, to present

PURPOSE

Drama needs to have a reason for people to watch it. Ask yourself “What is the message? What is it I want my audience to think or feel? How do I want them to respond or react?” This is the PURPOSE of your drama

DRAMAS CAN….. EDUCATE ENTERTAIN OR TELL A STORY EXPLORE AN ISSUE CONVEY A MESSAGE

A key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama FOCUS

DRAWING FOCUS TO AN EVENT IN THE DRAMA CAN HELP YOUR AUDIENCE UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE/ PURPOSE

Character’s Purpose How does your character drive the narrative? What do they actually do? How are their actions likely to impact on the audience? Example - The ugly sisters’ purpose is to torment Cinderella, making the audience very sympathetic to her situation, and hoping the mean sisters will get their just desserts.

TARGET AUDIENCE WHO/ WHAT AGE IS YOUR DRAMA AIMED AT?

Questions you must be able to answer What is the main purpose of your drama? What is the purpose of your character within the drama? What form and structure was your drama? Why did you choose these? Who is your target audience and why?

Original Powerpoint Katie Van Exan - Culloden High, Inverness 2007 Modified terri jones St Rochs 2012