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A LEVEL DRAMA

BRIDGING THE GAP

PRACTITIONER RESEARCH below ARe THRee QUIZ’S oN THRee pRAcTITIoNeRS THAT

Y0U wIll STUDY DURING YoU’Re A level coURSe. YoU

MUST RESEARCH THE PRQATITIONER AND THEN ANSEWR THE

QUESTIONS.

this BOOKLET MUST BE RETURNED TO MRS WARD OR MR

LAUGHLIN IN SPETMEBER.

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BERTOLT BRECHT

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Y12 Brecht QUIZ!

You will need to research independently but here are some starting points:

BBC Bitesize ‘Epic Theatre and Brecht’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-A8mCjRu5g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-828KqtTkA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v800yLRgKLg

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/backstage

1. List 5 key biographical /professional facts about Brecht

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2. True or False?

a. Brecht's theatre is strongly informed by European and German

theatre traditions.

b. Brecht worked on his own and disliked collaboration.

c. Brecht has had a profound influence on acting styles, playwrights

and directors through his plays and his essays which continues today.

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3. How old was Brecht when the First World War started?

4. What is important about Epic theatre?

5. Explain what Brecht wanted the audience to experience in the theatre in

rejecting 'dramatic theatre' or 'the theatre of illusion'.

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6. Explain what Brecht wanted in terms of acting style and narrative.

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7. List 8 - 10 key features of a typical Brechtian play.

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8. List 3 specific companies or writers influenced profoundly by Brecht.

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9. Why do you think Eugene Ionesco, the French- Romanian absurdist

playwright meant when he criticised Brecht as, 'a postman'? How would

you respond to this comment?

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10. Explain in one sentence an element of Brechtian theatre that interests or

inspires you.

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I don’t want a gravestone, but

If you want one for me

I should like it to read:

He made suggestions. We

Acted on them.

Such an inscription would

Do honour to us all.

1933

11. What can contemporary actors and directors learn from Brecht's constant

development and restless, endless quest for better theatre?

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12. Write and explain your favourite Brecht quote with reasons.

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13. Explain in brief Brecht's influence on theatre. Consider 3-4 companies,

genres, directors or playwrights

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14. Imagine you walked into a theatre to see a new play. Four elements make

you realise this production is strongly influenced by Brecht. List these

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15. Explain in your own words what alienation or 'verfremdungs' is better

described as.

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CONSTANTIN

STANISLAVSKI

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Y12 STANISLAVSKI QUIZ!

You will need to research independently but here are some starting points:

BBC Bitesize ‘Naturalism and Stanislavski’

http://www.kryingsky.com/stan/biography/bot.html

National Theatre Five truths: Constantin Stanislavski

1. List 5 key biographical /professional facts about Stanislavski (5)

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2. True or False?

a. Stanislavski thought that theatre should be fun, entertaining and

purely frivolous.

b. Stanislavski thought that theatre should ennoble the human mind,

be a moralising influence that civilised the audience and

heightened sensitivity.

c. Stanislavski has had a profound influence on acting styles,

playwrights and directors through his work and his books which

continues today.

Last scene of

Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya

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3. Describe Stanislavski’s intention as an actor, teacher, director and coach in

less than 15 words

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4. What did he feel when acting with professionals as a young actor in 1892?

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5. Explain what Stanislavski meant by an understanding of subtext and why

this is crucial for actors.

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6. List his 3 books.

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7. What are given circumstances?

8. Describe 3 exercises you might have done as an actor working on

character or skills development in the Moscow Arts Theatre.

9. List two more ideas from the system with a definition.

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10. Write and explain your favourite Stanislavski quote with reasons. (2)

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11. Explain in brief Stanislavski’s influence on modern British theatre and

television, with reference to 3 specific artists.

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Dennis Hopper reads An Actor

Prepares on the set of Rebel

Without A Cause

Al Pacino in Scarface

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Kneehigh Quiz

You will need to research independently online as well as reading the Kneehigh

material. YouTube or vimeos trailers for their shows are good. Specifically look

at: - material. YouTube or vimeos trailers for their shows are good. Specifically

look at:-

https://kneehighcookbook.co.uk/

http://www.kneehigh.co.uk – specifically look at history, asylum, and the shows – but it’s a

fabulous and fascinating site.

Reviews and accounts of Kneehigh shows in broadsheet newspapers on their websites

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zt72v

iplayer, radio 3, The Essay, Emma Rice, Under the Influence, Under the Influence (15 mins)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bw8hv

iplayer, radio 3, The Essay, Emma Rice, On Directing

1. When did Kneehigh Theatre start?

2. Who started the company?

3. Why is Cornwall so important?

4. List 3 alternative venues Kneehigh performed at.

5. What is the Asylum?

6. What did Emma Rice do at Kneehigh?

7. What does she do now?

8. What is the Asylum?

9. What did Emma Rice do at Kneehigh?

10. What does she do now?

11. What do the company use the Barns for? What productions were

current this summer at the Asylum? FUP, The flying lovers of Vitebsk,

Two Gentlemen of Verona

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12. As well as Cornwall, where do Kneehigh perform?

13. TRUE OR FALSE

a. Kneehigh only produce classics

b. Kneehigh only welcome professionals

c. Kneehigh are a very naturalistic company

d. Kneehigh believe in ensemble, in a rehearsal process that is joyous,

anarchic and playful.

e. Emma Rice and Mike Shepherd use lots of props, costume, lights, set

and music to create a fear-free sensual world.

14. Why should we tell stories?

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15. List 10 stylistic key features of a typical (if there is such a thing) Kneehigh

production

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16. Why are childhood skills, ideas and stories so important for Kneehigh?

17. Describe the style of direction in a Kneehigh play from your research.

18. Describe a moment from your research from a Kneehigh play that

appealed to you, with 2 reasons.

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Frantic Assembly Quiz

You will need to research independently online as well as reading the Kneehigh

material. YouTube or vimeos trailers for their shows are good. Specifically look

at: -

https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/partners/details/frantic-assembly

National theatre Frantic assembly masterclass

1. Who are they? 2. When did Frantic Assembly start? 3. Who started the company? 4. What are they about? 5. What does Scott Graham do at Frantic?

6. List 3 Current Productions. 7. What are chair duets?

8. List 10 stylistic key features of a typical (if there is such a thing) Frantic

production