http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9aHIVmqFYY&feature=related

Starter video

Unit 1 Exploration of Drama & Theatre

Metamorphosis by Steven BerkoffLANGUAGE

Exploration Notes (3000 words)

• The response to a practitioner (ARTAUD)• Language• Vocal Awareness• The Social, Cultural, Historical and Political Context• Characterisation• Non-Verbal Communication• Interpretation• The Visual, aural and spatial elements of a Production

• Theatre Review (1000 words)

Learning Outcomes

• To understand what VOCAL AWARENESS means in Drama

• To be able to interpret sections of the play PRACTICALLY using the appropriate vocal expression.

What is Vocal Awareness? • Vocal Awareness is about applying your voice

to your work on texts.• Consider the factors affecting voice.

• Discuss with your partner what these could be• Share with the group• Practically demonstrate!

Factors influencing Vocal awareness/expression

1.Character 2.Given Circumstances

3.Style of Play 4.Objective

Finding your Characters VoiceThe following elements will be influenced by the previous four factors and are important to finding your characters voice:

• Pitch (the note)• Range (How high your voice will go)• Pace (the rate or relative speed)• Use of pauses• Tone (which relates to the attitude of your character and

his/her relationship with the person who is listening)• Volume• Articulation (how clearly you pronounce the words)

Practical exploration 1

• In a group of 3 take the following lines from the play:

• Gregor, open the door• Come on – open up• Open the door

• Experiment with different ways the lines could be said to

reveal character, mood, status, given circumstances, style etc.

Space, Stage form and projection.

• Part of your vocal awareness will be your skill in adapting to different playing conditions. You will need to take into account the size of the auditorium, its acoustics and the stage form. Projection is using the strength of your voice so that you can be heard comfortably by the audience.

• What do you need to consider?

Exploring Vocal Awareness• Group work: Allocate parts and read through p109 – 110. Discuss the extract.

What is happening? (Family are emptying Gregor’s room) What emotions does each family member have at this moment? (Fear, anger, terror etc.) What do you want the audience to experience (a horrific scene, nightmarish)

• Whole class: Exaggerated movements: Walk round room in neutral. On the count to 10 show the emotion ‘FEAR’ with 10 as the most extreme and exaggerated (use facial expressions, body language, gesture, voice etc – which characters are you showing? Greta & Mother) Then count down to 1 – then call out random numbers. Same exercise with ‘ANGER’ (Mr Samsa and Gregor) Slow Motion.

• Groups of 4/5. Combine the exaggerated movements and slow motion to depict the following sequence to Massive Attack.

• Mr Samsa miming throwing the apple Gregor falls back, Silent screams of Greta & Mrs Samsa,

• Perform simultaneously, Add in text. Pick one line from the script and repeat it/ jumble them up – idea is to vocalise the panic of the characters. (eg: ‘You’ll kill him!’/ ‘back Gregor, back!’/ No, stop! Etc) Experiment with fast – slow – fast motion (when slow motion mime words)

• Whole class: Perform separately & evaluate the effectiveness for an audience.

EXPLORATION NOTES:Vocal Awareness• Individually: Complete Vocal Awareness notes

from today.