Year 11 Theatre Studies Units 1 and 2
Overview
‘I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.’ Oscar Wilde
Theatre Studies Unit 1 and 2 is a program supported by our friends at the Melbourne Theatre Company. Together we explore theatre from past and present, the techniques, the processes and the craft. You will delve into the varied roles of the theatre world, from sound, lighting, set and costume design through to acting and directing. You will understand how it has been done and how you would choose to do it interpreting a range of scripts from a number of eras and styles. In Unit 1 and 2 you will get to sample a range of theatre production roles preparing you for honing in on particular roles and crafting a production in Unit 3 and 4.
*Image right: Behind the scenes, Shakespeare in love, MTC 2019, Photograph by Tim Grey.
Who is it for?
This subject is for students who are creative and inquisitive. It is for those who enjoy making, presenting and communicating – be it directly with body and voice or through crafting art, technologies and objects.
It is also for anyone who wants to further their knowledge of theatre, theatre processes and craft theatre productions. If you enjoy creating collaboratively, telling stories and expressing yourself imaginatively this is the subject for you.
What do you do?
Throughout this subject, you will:
- create props
- design costumes
- design and apply character make-up
- design sets
- create soundscapes
- act and direct
- lighting design
- write scenes and story outlines
- research theatre history and styles
- respond to historical and technical information
- respond to and interpret play scripts
- view and analyse plays and scenes
- explore characters and themes.
What skills do you need?
You will need to be able to write clearly, be comfortable working independently, in pairs and in groups. You will be required to engage in creative, oral and performance based activities.
What skills do you develop?
Some of the skills you will develop are:
- interpersonal skills
- oral presentation skills
- analytical and critical thinking skills
- creative problem solving
- theatre production skills
- collaborative and communication skills
- self-expression
- interpretive skills
- an aesthetic sensibility
- confidence.
Requirements
This course is delivered online. You must have access to the internet and are required to attend online classes. You will need your own headset with a microphone and a computer with a webcam. You will need:
- a headset with microphone
- a webcam
- a screencasting application
- access to several play scripts.
Play scripts
MEDEA http://johnstoniatexts.x10host.com/euripides/medeahtml.html
Macbeth https://myshakespeare.com/macbeth/act-1-scene-1
A Doll’s house https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2542/2542-h/2542-h.htm
To purchase:
Mother Courage and her children by Bertolt Brecht
Black is the new white y Nakkiah Lui
Wendy and Peter pan by Ella Hickson
(all can be purchased online)
Things to think about
You will be doing a variety of things throughout the course of this study. We recommend you think about some of the following expectations:
- working collaboratively throughout the course
- required to present material using body and voice
- expected to think, write, create and present creatively
- asked to engage in researching, studying and responding to historical information
- required to think, respond and write analytically.
Things you can do now
Go to the theatre. There are lots of independent theatre companies all over Victoria, check out what local theatre is happening in your area and go see it.
Record yourself. Watch some monologues/soliloquys and practise some yourself, record them on audio or video so you are used to hearing and seeing yourself.
Look at some classic theatre scenes such as Greek or Elizabethan texts and re-write the scenes for today.
Read or watch the news, then take a hot topic and turn it into an idea for a play or a scene.
Get online and watch some scenes or plays.
Go to your local library and read a play that interests you so you can get used to the form.
Go to the VCAA website for more information about this subject.
Things to have a look at
Aussie Theatre
Feature articles and reviews of Aussie Theatre.
Visit Victoria – Theatre and Performing Arts
Find out what is happening in the theatre around Victoria.
MTC Youtube channel
Watch a bunch of videos on MTC’s Youtube channel.