1. Unit 3
The Drama GCSE
Written Paper
Friday 18th May 2018 at 1 p.m.

2. GCSE Drama Set Text

4. SET This is what the text gives you for the setting:
“He is alone in a wood-panneled room, shelves tacked with books, folders, archive boxes. It could be in a library, a records room, it could be a school, a prison, a government building. Rooms like this have existed all over the world for years. A corridor can be seen beyond a long window.”

5. If you follow the link below, you will see lots of photographic images of this production…

6. Is this what you imagined the set to look like. What elements are here
Is this what you imagined the set to look like? What elements are here? Which historical period do you think is being depicted? What do you think about the costumes?

7. Is this the ‘feeling’ that you wanted? What do you envisage?

9. Or were you thinking something more like…?

12. The sample written paper is to be found here…
Scroll down and look for the paper marked “Unit 3”

13. This is what you have to do…
Section A : I hour and 5 minutes
You will need to answer all of the questions on the set text (“1984”)
Section B : 25 minutes
You will have a choice of two questions about live theatre productions you have seen throughout the course. You answer one question.

14. Section A MAKE SURE YOU TURN TO THE “1984” QUESTIONS!!!!
First of all, you will be asked to find a specific extract from the play (you will have clean, unmarked copies provided for you.)
There will be specific guided questions about characters, how to act the character vocally and physically, how would you direct a piece of action to communicate a particular mood, what set or location would you use, what sort of lighting and sound would you use, what sort of costume.

15. Then, there will be a question about the WHOLE text, sometimes asking you to examine two extracts or more.
You need to know the play very well.

16. How to prepare for “1984” Make sure you have plans for:
How to act each of the relevant characters, physically and vocally;
Your set design and type of stage, with reasons for your choices;
Your costume design for each character, with reasons for your choices;
Your lighting design, with reasons for your choices, including mood;
Your sound design, with reasons for your choices, including mood;
Your overall directorial interpretation – what are you trying to communicate with YOUR production of this play?

17. Section B Live Theatre Performance
This is the sort of question you will be asked:
Analyse and evaluate the use of (a theatrical element) in two key scenes to communicate meaning to the audience. In your answer refer to:
  the style of the production
  how (the theatrical element) is used to create character and communicate meaning
  your response to the performance as an audience member.

18. Make notes about “Curious Incident” and “Blodeuwedd”
You will be asked to think about two key scenes;
You need to analyse (say what happened and why) and evaluate (say whether it was successful or not.)
You need to follow the bullet points they give you on the exam paper as a guide to your writing.

19. You might be asked about:
Acting;
Directing;
Message or theme and how it was communicated;
Style of production and type of staging;
Lighting;
Sound;
Costume;
Props;
Set design;
Movement;
Special effects (projections, pyrotechnics, video)

20. Do some revision… READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY!
Make detailed notes about all the elements of theatre production for both “1984” and your live theatre productions;
In the exam, and ABOVE ALL, follow the directions given to you on the exam paper.
READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY!