Checkpoint Revision

Checkpoint Revision

1. Physical Theatre

   • Physical Theatre At its simplest, you could define Physical theatre as a form of theatre that puts emphasis on movement rather than dialogue – it puts the human body at the centre of the storytelling process. As a result, it is often abstract in style, using movement in a stylised and representational way. Physical theatre shows that you don't have to use words to express ideas. It uses techniques such as movement, mime, gesture and dance and can be used to explore complex social and cultural issues
   • Laban
     • Laban Laban devised a notation system that described the system person of movements by the human body. His system identified the type, direction and duration of movement
   • Lecoq
     • Lecoq Jacques Lecoq developed an approach to acting using seven levels of tension. These levels were designed to help actors transition into different emotions that could be incorporated into a scene
   • Body Language
     • Body Language Movement, positioning and posture of the body which gives meaning to the character’s state
   • Chorography
     • Chorography Designing a series of movements to form a sequence

2. Techniques

   • Chair duets
     • Chair Duets This is one of Frantic Assembly’s simple and accessible devising exercises used to create new material. In this, you sit next to a partner and create contact improvisation whilst seated. Chair duets require a call/response style of working. Its restrictive nature forces the performer to explore and experiment with different types of movement.
   • Round-by-through
     • Round-by-through A movement sequence performed with a partner – although the number of people involved can be extended. ‘Round’ means literally moving around a partner, ‘By’ consists of being parallel to your partner and ‘Through’ is when you physically go through their body
   • Hymn hands
     • Hymn Hands The idea of Hand Hymns is to physically interact with a partner using only each other’s hands. The complexity of the movements is developed through an improvisational process – each person takes it in turns to manipulate the other Laban Laban devised a notation system that described the system person.

3. Frantic Assembly

   • Theatre Company Frantic Assembly has developed into one of the most studied and praised theatre companies working today. It was formed in 1994 by three students who were intrigued by theatre and wanted to create their own unique company. They wished to create non-naturalistic pieces through the use of movement and music, although they have always said that this should never take away from the storyline.
   • Mission Statement
     • Mission Statement “Our ambition is that we continue to learn and remain committed to making brave and bold theatre. At times it is physically dynamic and brutal. At others it's proudly tender and fragile.”

4. Staging positions

   • Audience
     • Downstage Centre
       • Downstage Left
       • Downstage Right
       • Centre Stage
         • Centre Stage Right
         • Centre Stage Left
         • Upstage Centre
           • Upstage Left
           • Upstage Right

5. Theatre Professional Roles

   • Playwright
     • A person who writes plays
   • Performer
     • Someone who acts in plays
   • Understudy
     • The 'back-up' performer
   • Lighting Designer
     • The person who designs how the lights will work during the play
   • Sound designer
     • They choose how sound effects or actors voices on mics will sound
   • Set Designer
     • They choose how the stages look
   • Costume Designer
     • They choose what the actors where
   • Puppet designer
     • They choose how puppets look if there are any
   • Technician
     • They do the labour for the designers
   • Director
     • They tell the actors how to act
   • Stage Manager
     • They are responsible for the technical aspects of the play
   • Theatre Manager
     • Oversees management of the entire theatre

6. Stage configurations

   • Traverse, audience on both sides
   • End-on, audience at the front
   • Thrust, stage goes out to into the middle of the audience
   • Theatre in the round, is fully surrounded by the audience
   • Promenade, includes the audience on stage