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Denny High School
Drama Department
Standard Grade
Body of Knowledge
The Drama Process
Respond to stimulus
Offer ideas
Discuss and select ideas for situations and roles
Agree form, structure and devices
Set up space
Rehearse
Review
Add theatre arts
Present to an audience
Evaluate
STIMULUS
• All drama is a
response to a
stimulus.
• A stimulus is
anything which
suggests ideas
which can be
developed into a
presentation.
Some examples of Stimulus:
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Photos/paintings
Props
Costume
Scripts
Location
Stories/Words
People/Situations
Newspaper Articles
Music/Sound FX
CREATING, PRESENTING AND
EVALUATING
• CREATING is developing a drama through
practical investigation, experimentation and
problem solving.
• PRESENTING is the review of the creating
process, decision making, rehearsal,
presentation and evaluation.
• EVALUATION is the process of reviewing,
reflecting and target setting, and can be of
the self or others.
LANGUAGE AND VOICE
• LANGUAGE is what we say and/or write
(word choice and order).
• VOICE is how we communicate
meaning verbally (meaning and
expression).
VOICE WORDS
• Accent: Way of speaking used in local area or
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country
Pace: Speed of speech
Volume: Loudness or quietness of the voice
Clarity: Clearness of the voice
Emphasis: The stress on a word or phrase
Pause: A break in speaking, period of silence
Pitch: How high or low the voice is
Voice Words
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Tone: Change of voice to express emotion
Articulation: Clear pronunciation of words
Fluency: Natural, flowing speech
Intonation: Rising and falling of voice in
speech
• Register: Appropriate speech for the person
being spoken to, or for the situation
NATURALISTIC MIOVEMENT – used
to aid characterisation.
• Body Language: Messages given by the
movement or position of the body.
• Facial Expression: Look on face which shows
emotion.
• Gesture: Movement of the hand or arm which
communicates a meaning or emotion.
• Eye Contact: Looking straight into the eyes of
another actor
• Posture: Position of the body – how it is held.
• Use of space: How the actor moves in the
acting area.
STYLISED MOVEMENT – Expressing
abstract ideas.
• Balance: Keeping an even distribution of
weight.
• Speed: Pace of movement.
• Timing: Speaking, moving or pausing at
exactly the right moment.
• Positioning: Where an actor is placed on the
acting area in relation to other actors.
• Use of Levels: Whether the actor is low,
medium or high.
STYLISED MOVEMENT
• Use of Space: How the actor moves in
the acting area
• Rhythm: Movements which follow a
pattern or beat
• Stance: Attitude or position of the body
• Use of Direction: Whether the actor
moves forwards, backwards or
sideways.
MIME
• A stylised form of
movement which gives
the illusion of reality. It
should be:
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Simple
Precise
Exaggerated
Clear
Slow
ROLE PLAY
• A means of
exploring attitudes
and beliefs
• Role play involves
representing a point
of view, without the
need for accents
and funny walks etc.
CHARACTERISATION
• The investigation and portrayal of a specific
character. A variety of techniques can be
used to investigate a character:
CHARACTERISATION TECHNIQUES:
• Character Cards: Written profile of a
character
• Improvisation
• Role Play
CHARACTERISATION TECHNIQUES
• Hot-Seating: A character is questioned while
still in role
• Voices-in-the-Head: Words said about the
character being repeated
• Writing-in-Role: Writing a letter or diary as
the character.
• Thought Tracking: A character speaking his
thoughts aloud.
• Thought Tunnel: Other characters comment
on a character’s situation
PURPOSE
• The purpose and
target audience of a
drama must be decided.
A drama can be used
for one or more
purposes:
• For example High
School Musical could
have the following
purposes: To entertain
and to tell a story.
POSSIBLE PURPOSES IN DRAMA
Communicate a message
Entertain
Tell a Story
Educate
Explore a theme or issue
Explore and Experience (through
audience participation/forum theatre)
FORM – The overall style of the
drama. These include:
• A Play, scripted or • Pantomime
improvised
• Comedy
• Dance Drama
• Tragedy
• Mime
• Docu-Drama
• Forum Theatre
• Monologue
• Movement
• Musical
STRUCTURE
• Structure is the way in which time,
place and action are sequenced.
• Linear Structure is chronological –
action unfolds from beginning to end.
• Non-Linear Structure unfolds
through shifts in time
(flashback/flashforward) and/or place.
CONVENTIONS – alternative ways of
presenting part(s) of a drama.
• Flashback: Acting out an event in the past.
• Flashforward: Acting out of a future or
imagined event.
• Freeze Frame: The action is frozen in time.
• Frozen Picture: Foundation word for tableau.
• Mime: Stylised form of movement which
creates an illusion of reality.
• Monologue: A character speaks their thoughts
aloud.
• Movement: A series of events told silently.
More CONVENTIONS…
• Slow Motion: Movement performed at a
slowed down speed.
• Narration: Part(s) of the drama are told as a
story by a narrator.
• Voice Over: Recorded speech played during
the drama.
• Aside: A remark to the audience only.
• Soliloquy: A single lengthy speech, made
when no other characters are onstage.
• Tableau: Credit term for Frozen Picture.
MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE
• Mood and
Atmosphere creates
feelings and
emotions in the
audience.
• Tension = driving
force in drama.
Holds interest in
what happens next.
TENSION – CREATED THROUGH:
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Movement
Shock or Surprise
Silence
Action
Conflict and
Confrontation
• Mystery
• Relationships and
Status
• Threat or Pressure
• Dramatic Irony
ACTING TECCHNIQUES USED TO
CREATE TENSION:
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Movement
Pace
Pause
Silence
Voice
Eye Contact
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Moves
Physical Contact
Contrast
Positioning
Timing.
THEATRE ARTS can also create
tension.
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Costume
Lighting
Music
Make-up/Masks
Props
Sound Effects (SFX)
Set
Special Effects
Staging
THEATRE ARTS
• Theatre Arts is a
term which covers
lighting, sound,
costume, props,
make-up and set.
• You should know the
function of all the
theatre arts.
THEATRE ARTS: LIGHTING
• Lighting has two
main functions – to
light the actors and
set,and to create
mood and
atmosphere.
• There are three
main types of
theatrical lantern…
LIGHTING
• A Fresnel – Lantern
giving a soft-edged
beam of light.
• A Flood – Lantern
giving a wide spread
of light.
• A Profile Spot –
Lantern giving a
hard edged beam of
light.
OTHER LIGHTING TERMS
• Gel – Film placed in front of the lantern to
change the colour of the beam.
• Gobo – Thin metal plate cut out into a
pattern and placed in a lantern to project a
pattern or shape onto the acting area.
• Blackout – the acting area is not lit.
• Fade Up/Down – to brighten or dim the
lighting.
• Crossfade – To change from on lighting
state to another with no blackout in between.
MORE LIGHTING TERMS
• Focussing – Positioning the lanterns to get the desired lighting.
• Follow Spot – Powerful profile used to follow actors around
the acting area.
• LFX – The quick way to write ‘lighting effects’.
• Lighting Desk – Control board for lighting.
• Wash – the whole acting area is evenly lit.
• G-Clamp – Clamp used to secure lantern to lighting bar or
stand.
• Pyrotechnics – Stage fireworks.
• Safety Chain – Used to secure lantern to lighting bar for
safety.
• Special Effects – Used to create a mood or atmosphere on
stage e.g. strobe light, mirror ball, smoke machine.
THEATRE ARTS: SOUND
• Cue: A signal for an actor to do something, or for a
lighting or sound effect to begin or end.
• Fade in/out – To bring the volume up/down.
• Crossfade – To change from one sound cue to
another, with no silence in between.
• Live (SFX) – An SFX is operated on cue during the
performance e.g. a doorbell, a phone ring, a knock.
• Pre-Recorded (SFX) – An SFX is recorded on
tape/CD and played during the performance.
• SFX – The quick way to write ‘sound effects’
• Mixing Desk – Control desk for sound.
THEATRE ARTS: COSTUME
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Costume – clothes worn by
actors for their character.
Hats – Items worn on head in
keeping with character.
Jewellery – Items worn on the
ears, neck or wrists in keeping
with the costume.
Period Costume – Costume
which reflects clothing from a
time in history (see right).
Costume list – List of all
costumes for each character in
a drama.
Wigs – Artificial hair worn in a
variety of colours and styles for
any character part.
THEATRE ARTS: PROPS
• Personal Props – items
carried or worn by a
character e.g. glasses,
handbag, wallet.
• Pre-set Props – items
placed on the set, e.g. lamp,
clock, picture.
• Props Table - Table in the
wings on which all props are
placed for actors to collect
as they enter, and replace as
they exit.
THEATRE ARTS: MAKE-UP
• Fake Blood – Powder,
liquid or capsules which
create the effect of
bleeding.
• Foundation – The
basic skin colour
• Liners – Sticks of
make-up in different
colours used to create
lines, bruises, shading,
highlighting etc.
MORE MAKE-UP TERMS
• Pencils – Soft pencils in
different colours which are
easily smudged and blended.
• Scarring – Scars created
with make-up, putty or
scarring material.
• Stipple Sponge – Used to
create an unshaven look or
the appearance of cracked
veins.
• Tooth Varnish – Used to
create the look of a missing
tooth by blacking out an
existing one.
• Crepe Hair – Plaits of
artificial hair which can be
cut and trimmed to form
eyebrows, moustaches, and
beards.
• Highlighting – Using light
colours to make face areas
stand out.
• Shading – Usiing colours to
make facial areas look
shrunken.
• Spirit gum – Glue used to
attach hair to the face.
MORE MAKE UP TERMS
• Latex – Liquid rubber
which can be used to
make skull cap moulds
and false noses.
• Nose Putty – Type of
clay used for altering
the shape of the nose
or chin and/or making
warts and wounds.
• Skull Cap – plastic
head-shaped covering
to give appearance of
baldness.
THE ACTING AREA:
The acting area is split into nine
areas which are described from the
actor’s point of view:
Up Stage Right
(USR)
Up Stage Centre
(USC)
Centre Stage
Right (CSR)
Centre Stage (CS) Centre Stage Left
(CSL)
Down Stage Right Down Stage
Centre (DSC)
(DSR)
AUDIENCE
Up Stage Left
(USL)
Down Stage Left
(DSL)
TYPES OF STAGING
Staging is the position of the audience in relation to the
acting area.
• PROSCENIUM
ARCH
• Definition: stage with
an enclosing arch.
• The audience are
seated on one side only.
• Examples in Glasgow:
The Kings, The Pavilion,
The Theatre Royal, the
main stage in the
Citizens Theatre.
TYPES OF STAGING
• THRUST STAGING
• Definition: The
audience is seated
on three sides of the
acting area.
• Can be used in
smaller theatres to
create more intimate
relationship with the
audience.
TYPES OF STAGING
• END ON STAGING
• Definition: Audience is
seated at one end, the
acting area is at the other.
• Similar to Proscenium Arch
but there are no ‘wings’ –
masking curtains at the side
to hide entrances and exits.
• Example in Glasgow – The
Tron, pictured opposite.
TYPES OF STAGING
• THEATRE IN THE
ROUND
• Definition: The
audience is seated
all around the acting
area.
• Creates limits in
what scenery and
set can be used.
TYPES OF STAGING
• AVENUE STAGING
• Definition: The
audience is seated
on two sides of the
acting area. (right)
TYPES OF STAGING
• PROMENADE STAGING
• Definition: The
audience follows the
action on foot, moving
from one location to
another.
• This can be used in
large theatre spaces
e.g. The Tramway or
The Arches in Glasgow.
• The diagram is of an
open-air promenade
production.
GROUND PLAN
The ground plan is a bird’s eye view of the set.
REMEMBER LAKES!!:
 LOGICAL – Enough space for actors to move, set
visible to audience.
 AUDIENCE – Position of the audience clearly
marked.
 KEY – A table which lists and identifies every symbol
used in the ground plan.
 ENTRANCES AND EXITS – All possible exits and
entrances marked with arrows.
 SET – All scenery, set and large furniture to be
included using the appropriate symbols.