Theatre Studies 2007-2012
The Theatre Studies VCE Study Design (Units 1–4) has been reviewed and reaccredited for the period 2007–2012.
Summary of Changes
The reaccredited study uses similar curriculum content and the same assessment structure as the current study. Within each unit there is a range of changes focusing on more effectively linking the practical and theatre history components in Units 1 and 2 and providing greater clarity about the expected scope of outcomes in Units 3 and 4.
As in the current study students should see theatre performances by other practitioners in all units. The performances for Units 3 and 4 must be selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Playlists. The VCE Playlists will continue to be published on an annual basis.
Stagecraft and its application in the interpretation of playscripts are retained as a central focus of the study. In this study, stagecraft includes acting, costume, direction, dramaturgy, lighting, make-up, multimedia, properties, promotion (including publicity), set, sound and stage management. Note that the stagecraft areas of multimedia and promotion (including publicity) were not included in the 2001 study. For Unit 3, where students specialise in two areas of stagecraft, specifications are provided about each stagecraft area.
Key knowledge and skills focusing on the application of stagecraft is structured so that students' understanding of the stagecraft area of acting is developed across Units 1–4. For example, Outcome 2 in Unit 1 requires all students to apply acting and other stagecraft to interpret playscripts and in Unit 3, the relationship between stagecraft areas is considered in Outcomes 1 and 2. This approach can be used to develop students' acting skills before they begin work on Unit 4 Outcome 1, the monologue performance.
Unit 1: Theatrical styles of the pre-modern era
Unit 1 focuses on theatrical styles from the pre-modern era. Areas of study 1, 2 and 3 are organised so that they can be taught concurrently. Analysis undertaken in area of study 3 can inform work in areas of study 1 and 2.
Area of study 1 – Pre-modern theatre involves study of playscripts from at least three distinct theatrical periods prior to the 1880s. Through practical workshops students gain knowledge of how these periods have shaped and contributed to the world of pre-modern theatre.
In area of study 2 – Interpreting playscripts students employ acting and other stagecraft to realise playscripts from at least three distinct theatrical periods of the pre-modern era. As well as developing understanding of ways stagecraft is informed by and contributes to the development of different theatrical styles, students also develop their understanding of the collaborative processes used to develop a theatre production.
Area of study 3 – Analysing a play in performance focuses on analysis of a play from the pre-modern era. This outcome is similar to Outcome 3 in the current study although teachers should note differences in the way key knowledge focusing on theatrical styles and context is expressed.
Unit 2: Theatrical styles of the modern era
The title for this unit reflects the emphasis on theatrical style in this study. Like the current study, Unit 2 focuses on theatre from the modern era (1880s to the present). Unit 2 is organised in the same way as Unit 1 with deliberate links between areas of study 1, 2 and 3.
Area of study 1 – Modern theatre focuses on study of at least three distinct theatrical movements from this era including playscripts associated with each movement. As in Unit 1, practical workshops are used to develop students' knowledge of how each movement shaped and contributed to the world of theatre.
In area of study 2 – Interpretation through stagecraft, students apply stagecraft to realise playscripts from at least three distinct modern theatre movements. Students build on work completed in Unit 1 as they further develop their understanding of the collaborative nature of theatre production. They also develop skills in documenting ideas that have contributed to the development of the playscript interpretations.
In area of study 3 – Analysing a play in performance students analyse and evaluate a play from the modern era focusing on use of stagecraft in the interpretation of the playscript and the performance.
Unit 3: Developing a production
The structure of Unit 3 has been reorganised from the 2001 study so that area of study 1 focuses on interpretation of a playscript across four stages of a production process and area of study 2 focuses on the influence of stagecraft on the production of a playscript. As in the current study, these outcomes require students to specialise in two areas of stagecraft. Within a class group, more than one student may specialise in any stagecraft area, for example the production team might include two directors or some stagecraft areas may not be selected by any students in the group, for example for some playscripts it may not be appropriate to focus on sound.
This reorganisation means that the School-assessed Coursework tasks for Outcomes 1 and 2 are different to those in the 2001 study. In particular, teachers should note that Outcome 2 requires students to analyse application of two areas of stagecraft across all stages of the production process. Specifications are provided which outline of the type of evidence students should gather in relation to each of their selected stagecraft areas during the production process. Relevant and appropriate selections from this evidence should be used as examples in the analysis completed for the School-assessed Coursework task.
In area of study 1 – Production process students become members of a production team and develop an interpretation of a playscript. In this study, the production process is described as consisting of four stages – planning, development, season and evaluation. Students complete exercises and tasks and contribute to two areas of stagecraft across all stages of the process. Outcome 1 now refers to application of stagecraft for performance to an audience and demonstration of understanding of the stages of a production process.
Area of study 2 – Stagecraft influence involves students analysing the influence of stagecraft on the production of the playscript they interpreted in area of study 1. The analysis focuses on the nature and purpose of the four stages of the production process, contributions of individuals working in collaboration with others and techniques used in two areas of stagecraft.
Area of study 3 – Production analysis focuses on analysis of a production selected from the VCE Unit 3 Theatre Studies Playlist. Students analyse and evaluate the relationship between a written playscript and its interpretation on stage. Students also evaluate ways people such as the dramaturg or the costume designer have contributed to the production through the application of stagecraft.
Unit 4: Interpreting a performance
Unit 4 in this study is very similar to Unit 4 in the 2001 study and focuses on interpretation of a monologue from a scene from a playscript selected from the prescribed monologue list. This monologue is performed during the Performance examination.
Area of study 1 – Monologue interpretation focuses on the text, context, intended meanings and theatrical styles of the monologue, the scene in which it is embedded and the playscript. Students also focus on the nature and processes of monologue performance.
The focus of area of study 2 – Scene interpretation is the scene in which the monologue selected for area of study 1 is embedded. Students develop a theatrical brief that outlines an interpretation of the scene. The interpretation presented in the brief includes an outline of the ways in which the scene could be approached as a theatrical performance and the creation of the character by an actor, possible application of other stagecraft and evidence of research that has informed the interpretation.
As in the 2001 study, area of study 3 – Performance analysis involves analysis and evaluation of the acting in a production selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 Playlist. The key knowledge for this outcome outlines the aspects of acting which students should focus on when completing this analysis.
Assessment
The range of assessment tasks for School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3, Outcomes 1, 2 and 3 and Unit 4 Outcomes 2 and 3 is similar to the range provided in the current study.
This change reflects the changed structure of Unit 3. School-assessed Coursework continues to contribute 45 per cent to the study score. The performance examination continues to contribute 25 per cent to the study score and the written examination 30 per cent.
Enquiries about the content of the study design can be directed to:
Helen Champion, Acting Curriculum Manager, The Arts
Telephone: (03) 9651 4668
Email: champion.helen.h@edumail.vic.gov.au
