Theatre Processes
This area of the syllabus will address the exploration of the skills, techniques and processes involved in theatre-making. You will reflect on your own creative processes and skills acquisition as well as gaining a practical understanding of the processes of others; creators, designers, directors and performers.
Through the theatre processes area, you will:
- be informed about the various processes involved in making theatre from the perspectives of the specialist theatre roles (creator, designer, director and performer)
- observe and reflect on processes used in different theatre traditions and performance practices
- develop a range of skills required to make and participate in theatre
The theatre processes area of the course allows students to explore the different processes involved in
making theatre from the perspectives of creator, designer, director and performer; in order to develop the
skills required to make theatre and to observe and reflect on processes used in different theatre traditions
and performance practices from around the world.
The syllabus should be flexible enough to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills and practical
knowledge required for performance and production. Students should develop both breadth and depth
in their skills and understandings. This involves exploring the essential elements of the performance
and production processes outlined below and an understanding of how production elements function
individually and with each other.
The theatre processes area requires that students develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the
following areas.
- Creating—an understanding of different approaches to creating original and scripted theatre and an
understanding of the art form and its elements (such as tension, atmosphere, emotion, communicating
meaning, character, plot, symbol and aesthetics). Students should have an awareness of different
styles of theatre, different performance spaces, structures, narrative and non-narrative forms of
theatre. This study may include evaluating a range of different approaches to making theatre, from
diverse cultures and theatre traditions and performance practices including collaborative processes.
Students should have practical experience of the various processes of transforming play texts into live
action, forming and communicating directorial intentions through text and visuals.
- Designing—an understanding of the principles and processes involved in designing. Students should
explore diverse performance spaces and have an understanding of how production elements function
individually and together. These elements include scenic design elements (such as set, costume,make-up
and props) and technical design elements (such as lighting, sound and projection). Students
should explore the use of production elements in diverse theatre traditions, performance practices
and contexts.
- Directing—a knowledge and appreciation of the processes undertaken by different directors
in staging play texts with an understanding of directorial intentions and the different processes
undertaken by directors to create a particular impact on an audience. This study can include evaluating
directorial techniques from diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts. Students
should explore the various processes through which artistic ideas, intentions and interpretations are
communicated to others.
- Performing—an understanding of rehearsal processes, performer training and the development of
skills related to the use of voice, body, face, movement and gesture in performance. Students should
examine these practically. This area of study can include evaluating approaches to performance,
performer training, performance conventions and techniques from diverse theatre traditions and
performance practices.
- Spectating—an understanding of how an audience receives, experiences and responds to theatre
and how to analyse and critique a production. This requires students to watch, critique and reflect on
the impact live theatre productions have on them. They also need to be aware of how the experience
of these live productions inspires, influences and informs their artistic choices and their own work as
creators of theatre, designers, directors and performers.
This area of the syllabus will address the exploration of the skills, techniques and processes involved in theatre-making. You will reflect on your own creative processes and skills acquisition as well as gaining a practical understanding of the processes of others; creators, designers, directors and performers.
Through the theatre processes area, you will:
- be informed about the various processes involved in making theatre from the perspectives of the specialist theatre roles (creator, designer, director and performer)
- observe and reflect on processes used in different theatre traditions and performance practices
- develop a range of skills required to make and participate in theatre
The theatre processes area of the course allows students to explore the different processes involved in
making theatre from the perspectives of creator, designer, director and performer; in order to develop the
skills required to make theatre and to observe and reflect on processes used in different theatre traditions
and performance practices from around the world.
The syllabus should be flexible enough to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills and practical
knowledge required for performance and production. Students should develop both breadth and depth
in their skills and understandings. This involves exploring the essential elements of the performance
and production processes outlined below and an understanding of how production elements function
individually and with each other.
The theatre processes area requires that students develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the
following areas.
- Creating—an understanding of different approaches to creating original and scripted theatre and an
understanding of the art form and its elements (such as tension, atmosphere, emotion, communicating
meaning, character, plot, symbol and aesthetics). Students should have an awareness of different
styles of theatre, different performance spaces, structures, narrative and non-narrative forms of
theatre. This study may include evaluating a range of different approaches to making theatre, from
diverse cultures and theatre traditions and performance practices including collaborative processes.
Students should have practical experience of the various processes of transforming play texts into live
action, forming and communicating directorial intentions through text and visuals.
- Designing—an understanding of the principles and processes involved in designing. Students should
explore diverse performance spaces and have an understanding of how production elements function
individually and together. These elements include scenic design elements (such as set, costume,make-up
and props) and technical design elements (such as lighting, sound and projection). Students
should explore the use of production elements in diverse theatre traditions, performance practices
and contexts.
- Directing—a knowledge and appreciation of the processes undertaken by different directors
in staging play texts with an understanding of directorial intentions and the different processes
undertaken by directors to create a particular impact on an audience. This study can include evaluating
directorial techniques from diverse theatre traditions, performance practices and contexts. Students
should explore the various processes through which artistic ideas, intentions and interpretations are
communicated to others.
- Performing—an understanding of rehearsal processes, performer training and the development of
skills related to the use of voice, body, face, movement and gesture in performance. Students should
examine these practically. This area of study can include evaluating approaches to performance,
performer training, performance conventions and techniques from diverse theatre traditions and
performance practices.
- Spectating—an understanding of how an audience receives, experiences and responds to theatre
and how to analyse and critique a production. This requires students to watch, critique and reflect on
the impact live theatre productions have on them. They also need to be aware of how the experience
of these live productions inspires, influences and informs their artistic choices and their own work as
creators of theatre, designers, directors and performers.