VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023

Unit 3 Area of Study 1: Staging Theatre

In this area of study students focus on developing skills that can be applied to the interpretation of a script for
performance to an audience. They work collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to contribute to the
development of a production of a selected script. As members of the production team, students undertake
exercises and tasks throughout the three stages of the production process and apply elements of theatre
composition leading to a performance to an audience of the selected script.

Students develop an understanding of, and enhance skills in, working in two production roles across all stages of
the production process. They apply dramaturgy and use elements of theatre composition in the work they
undertake in the two production roles. They develop skills that contribute to the theatre production process,
including thinking creatively and imaginatively, working collaboratively, time management, planning, scheduling
and reflecting. Throughout the production process, students develop their oral skills through discussions with
others in the production team or through explaining how their work in production roles contributes to realising
the production aims. They develop knowledge about and apply safe and ethical working practices in theatre
production.

Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret a script across the stages of the production
process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles.

For Area of Study 1 students select two production roles from the following list:
actor
director
designer – any one or two of costume, make-up, props, set, lighting, sound

To achieve this outcome, the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.

Key knowledge & skills:

 identify and describe aspects of the three stages of the production process
 approaches to working collaboratively in a production team
 contribute effectively to the development of a creative and imaginative interpretation of a script for
performance to an audience
 contribute effectively to two production roles in collaboration with others in the production team across
the three stages of the production process
 ways in which theatre production is informed by dramaturgical techniques that can be used as part of a
production process, culminating in the performance of a script to an audience
 approaches to using elements of theatre composition to exploit possibilities in a script and apply
elements of theatre composition creatively and imaginatively
 apply theatre technologies to enhance realisation of production aims
 demonstrate techniques and processes regarding safe and ethical working practices associated with
theatre production
 document, analyse and evaluate on-going contributions towards the realisation of production aims
across the three stages of the production process
 demonstrate appropriate use of theatre terminology and expressions in written and oral documentation
and discussions.
VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023

TASK 1: 45 marks
Ongoing developmental contributions to creative interpretation of a script across all three stages of the production
process through collaborative work in two production roles.

Staging our plays:

Perform two different production roles for our chosen play. You will pitch your ideas for these roles,
explaining how your ideas for expressing the themes, contexts and meanings through your chosen
production roles will be the most effective. The teacher will cast/assign roles for the play based on these
pitches and student strengths.
Roles to choose from: actor, director, costume designer, make-up designer, set designer, props designer,
lighting designer, sound designer.
You cannot act in and direct the same play.
See ‘Roles in a Production’ rubric for breakdown of jobs (at end of the document).

Documenting the process:

EVERYTHING must be documented – this will be assessed in the form of a hardcopy folio at the end of each stage
(date to be determined in class, see the rubric below for what needs to be in your folio when).
Production roles within 3 stages of Dramaturgical techniques
production process Analysis and evaluation at each stage of
Elements of theatre composition production process
Theatre technologies Safe and ethical work practices
Collaboration within production team, Theatre terminology
including production aims
See checklist below to assist.

MARKS /45
Planning Stage Audit = 10 Development Stage Audit = 25 Presentation Stage Audit = 10

TASK 2: 15 marks
Analysis and evaluation, supported by relevant documentation, of ongoing developmental contributions across all
three stages of the production process in two or more of the following formats:
Oral
Written
Visual
Multimedia

Oral presentation of evaluation of the entire process, supported by documentation of the entire process:
Presented the lesson following our performance
Oral presentation evaluating final performance, which talks through the production process
Written/visual/multimedia documentation of all three stages of the production process
Draw conclusions from evidence within documentation to evaluate success of production aims
May refer to presentation stage jobs not yet completed due to timing of presentations of this task, such
as seeking wider audience feedback (i.e. further evidence could be found through… which could show…)

Questions to address, using practical examples from the process, everything must come back to evaluation of
realisation of production aims: (15 marks)
1. How has your contribution as a member of the production team assisted in creating meaning?
2. How have your production roles worked together with other production roles? Give three practical
examples and refer to at least two Elements of Theatre Composition.
3. For each production role, give one detailed example of adjustments required because of discoveries
made during the presentation stage. This requires thorough evaluation.
VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023
What your documentation needs to show at the end of every stage FOR TASK 1:
Criteria Planning Stage Development Stage Presentation Stage
Vision, messages, themes, intended learnings from the Constant referral to these throughout oAchieved with final product.
Production Aims audience, intended reactions from audience documentation when making choices, oEvaluated.
trialling and evaluating.
o All initial research into play conducted oAny new research conducted, Evaluated.
o Unpack what you found and figure out how this especially around trialling choices.
Dramaturgy relates to your production role and production aims – oFindings from initial research referred
how will you use the dramaturgy for each production to in explanation and evaluation of
role? choices.
o Overall play deadlines (bump in, etc.) Revised and evaluated often. Evaluated.
o Your personal deadlines
 Final product
Timeline
 Rehearsal products (long skirts, etc. costume, props)
 Trial products (i.e test smashing the mug)
 Design deadlines, and feedback from director
Worked collaboratively. Worked collaboratively. Evaluation of collaboration.
Rehearsal notes and production meetings notes kept Rehearsal notes and production Evaluation of the final product and the link
and commented on. meetings notes kept and commented between production roles in realising the
Part of the Some link how production roles fit with other on. production aims.
production team production roles and the entire play – each role’s job Clear link how production roles fit
in realising the vision of the production. with other production roles and the
entire play – each role’s job in
realising the vision of the production.
Some designs/choices/trials offered Multiple designs/choices/trials End product is creative and imaginative… this
Also see other rubric for breakdown of jobs within Different choices – unpacked and feels subjective but there are choices that
each production role. evaluated for effectiveness use their dramaturgy, explore different ways
Clear documentation of creative of doing things, trial ideas, and come up with
thinking (links choices to production an end product that is out of the ordinary but
aims) works perfectly – it’s all about exploring
Production Roles –
Also see other rubric for breakdown (research and trialling), and finding and
creative and
of jobs within each production role. refining those choices. The
imaginative
audience/examiner doesn’t want to see
interpretation
something they’ve seen before, and they’ve
seen a lot. What creativeness are you going
to give them that awakens their
imagination?
Also see other rubric for breakdown of jobs
within each production role.
Elements of o Contrast – is there something from our aims and or Outline of how each is utilised to Evaluation of effectiveness.
VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023
dramaturgy that you can contrast? achieve production aims within your
o Cohesion – are we all on the same page? Are you production role.
supposed to be contrasting? Does this work?
o Emphasis – what is being emphasised according to
our production aims, and how can you emphasise it?
o Rhythm – how can you contribute to the rhythm of
Theatre the play? Figure out the river – where does your
Composition production role highlight bends/rocks/whirlpools in
the river of the story of the play?
o Motion – movement of actors or design features in
the space: position, pattern, arrangement,
proportion, spatial flow
o Variation – tension, conflict, intensity, energy, use of
space
o How have you used them (eDocumentation, o Reference to use of theatre Explanation of how the use of theatre
Facebook, emails – communication) technologies to: work collaboratively; technologies enhanced realisation of production
o How can you use them (communication, helping you record and document; present aims.
Theatre develop, learning lines, designing on computers, etc.) documentation.
Technologies o How could you trial using it on stage – this is the o Trial into using theatre technologies
kicker – examiners/audience loves a good use of on stage to realise production aims.
theatre technology within the design. For acting, Evaluation of effectiveness of this
don’t spend long here. choice and decision made.
Risks identified. Risk management outlined. Documentation shows this was considered,
Safe and ethical
researched and explored throughout the
work practices
process.
Evaluate each thing you’ve done, like timeline, are you Evaluate each thing you’ve done, like Everything evaluated. Presented orally,
Evaluation on track or do you need to change stuff? timeline, are you on track or do you accompanied by documentation.
need to change stuff?
Theatre language is used appropriately throughout. Theatre language is used Word list created for use in evaluation and
Word lists created to accompany vision board when appropriately throughout. oral presentation
Terminology
forming production aims. Sentence starters created as prompts for
evaluation oral presentation
GRADE /10 /25 /10

100% (10/25) = Thorough. Everything 60% (6/15) = Missing a few things but 40% (4/10) = Not confident this job is 20% (2/5) = No details or insights –
considered and progress evaluated. what’s there is okay. Makes some links getting done according to production simply listing jobs /research, and it’s
(i.e. to production aims or aims, but a job is getting done. There’s incomplete.
80% (8/20) = Pretty good. Might be collaboration) but missing insight. choices made but no links to aims or
missing some elements. dramaturgy. Evaluation isn’t clear.
VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023
VCE Theatre Studies AOS 1: Staging Theatre 2023
ROLES IN A PRODUCTION
Production
Planning Stage Development Stage Presentation Stage
Role
 Dramaturgy: conduct  Run rehearsals  Coordinate technical and
research, including the  Liaise with design team dress rehearsals
script  Continue working with  Attend performances to
 Arrive at a vision for the actors on their character give character and
entire play and share with journey production notes to the
actors and design team cast and crew
DIRECTORS  Devise the blocking and  Attend post-production
character journey with the evaluation session
actors
 Attend initial production
meetings
 Draw up rehearsal
schedule
 Dramaturgy: conduct  Attend rehearsals  Perform
research, including the  Keep notes from rehearsals  Keep technical rehearsal,
script and meetings (e.g. with dress rehearsal and season
 Arrive at a vision for the director) notes from the director,
ACTORS character  Annotate script during and stage manager and others
 Begin learning lines between rehearsals  Attend post-production
 Attend initial production  Continue learning lines evaluation session
meetings  Attend production
meetings
 Dramaturgy: research,  Help to run rehearsals  Create all backstage
including reading the play  Establish and maintain running lists
 Attend initial production prompt copy of script  Pre-set the show
meetings  Provide rehearsal props  Call the show (and
 Establish a risk and costumes (or delegate) technical and dress
STAGE management assessment  Liaise with other stagecraft rehearsals)
MANAGERS for the production areas, especially lighting,  Help to run performance
 Draw up rehearsal props, set and sound feedback sessions
schedule with director  Help to run bump-in and
bump-out
 Help to run evaluation
sessions
 Dramaturgy: preliminary  Experiment with designs  Maintenance and
research, including reading  Create designs leading refinements made to
the script through to final design design items/materials etc.
 Notes made on how design  Source  Keep notes from post-
is informed by the materials/construction/pur performance meetings
DESIGNERS
playscript chase (as applicable)  Attend rehearsal and
 Start planning initial design  Liaise with other stagecraft performance as required
ideas areas  Attend post-production
 Keep notes from evaluation session
production meetings
 Dramaturgy: preliminary  Create publicity items  Continue to implement
research, including reading  Marketing strategy plan marketing strategy plan
the script  Production meetings  Continue publicity
PRODUCTION
 Initial ideas for publicity  Liaise with Production campaign
MANAGEMENT
and marketing based on Manager and other areas  Attend post-production
script and other research of stagecraft evaluation session
 Don’t forget ticketing