Drama Study Notes

Students develop and present a devised ensemble performance, examining the work of a range of drama practitioners working in selected performance styles to explore how dramatic work is created. They work with given stimulus material and guidelines, applying play-making techniques to extract dramatic potential and develop characters, story and meaning. The performance style may reflect one or multiple performance styles and must incorporate application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place. Students manipulate conventions, dramatic elements and production areas to communicate meaning and impact the audience, considering sustainable materials in production areas.

Students focus on the process and creation of the ensemble performance devised in Area of Study 1. They describe, analyse and evaluate the creation and performance of their devised ensemble, reflecting on the selection, application and manipulation of conventions, dramatic elements, expressive skills, performance skills, play-making techniques, production areas and performance styles. They consider decisions made in extracting dramatic potential from stimulus material and developing intended meaning for an audience, applying relevant drama terminology.

Students attend, analyse and evaluate a professional drama performance selected from the prescribed VCE Drama Unit 3 Playlist. They analyse and evaluate the actors’ use of expressive and performance skills to represent character and communicate meaning, consider how the actor–audience relationship is established, maintained and/or manipulated, and analyse and evaluate the application of conventions, dramatic elements, production areas, performance styles and contemporary practices.

Students explore and develop skills in play-making techniques to develop a short demonstration of a solo performance that includes application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place. They select a character from one of the prescribed structures published in the VCE Drama solo performance examination for the current year and use the performance focus statement as stimulus for a one- to two-minute solo demonstration.

Students build on their understanding from Area of Study 1 to create and develop an extended solo performance in response to a prescribed structure. They draw on performance styles from a range of historical, cultural and social contexts as well as contemporary drama practices. The resulting work will be non-realistic and include non-linear narratives, transformation of character, time and place, and application of symbol.

Students apply relevant drama terminology to analyse and evaluate the creative processes used in the creation, development and presentation of a solo performance devised in response to a prescribed structure. They draw on examples of conventions, dramatic elements, expressive skills, performance skills, performance styles, play-making techniques, production areas and use of stimulus and resource material.