Theatre ProductionA collaborative class production

Key ConceptsPlayscript/textContextIntended meaningInterpretationProduction/realisationProduction stages/processesStagecraft

Playscript/textRefers to both a whole play and extract(s) from a play(s)

ContextThe world of the play or the piece, from the immediate to ever-broadening perspectivesHistorical context: referring to periods, eras or times, such as Elizabethan England or the period of World War II

Cultural context: referring to more general social mores or conventions which determine societal behaviour, such as weddings and popular entertainmentsSocial context: referring to aspects of personal life during a particular period, era or time, such as how people tended to relate to their family and friends

Intended MeaningRefers to the intention of the playwright as well as the performance interpretation. The perceived intended meaning of the playwright may differ from the performance without the performance being considered “wrong” or to have failed. The starting point of all performances is the playwright’s intention. The end point is the intention of the director, performers and the enacted performance itself.

InterpretationThe process of making decisions about the presentation/performance of a play, piece, and/or character. An interpretation is one example of how a text may be performed. There is no definitive or perfect interpretation of a text.

Production/RealisationThe production of a play or script assumes a performance before an audience, incorporating stagecraft appropriate to the chosen style. The realisation is the actual performance, as distinct from the planning, development ad evaluation.

The Production Process- Producing a show

The Production ProcessWhen putting on a theatre show there are many stages in the production process.

Pre-production - planning and developmentProduction - the production seasonPost-production - evaluation

Pre-production - Planning and DevelopmentPlanning – the preliminary

processes of preparing for a production.

Includes research, initial design concepts and the preparation of a production schedule and booking of a venue

Development – taking the initial concepts and ideas to the next stage.

Includes rehearsals, construction and organisation of props etc.

Production - Production Season

Bump-inTech and dress rehearsalPerformancesBump-out

NOTE – there may be development between performances

Post-production - Evaluation

Evaluation of the relative success and/or failure of all components of the production and production process – considers audience response.Evaluation of the ways specific stagecraft contributed to the production and achieved the intended aims

StagecraftComponents of a show

StagecraftThe areas of production are called stagecraft elements, and each contributes to creating a theatre show

ActingDirectingChoreographyDesign – costume, make-up, sound, lighting, set, sound, propsPublicity and marketingProduction management and stage management

Production RolesThe people who make it happen

Director

The Director’s RoleHas creative control of a productionManages creative side of the production process in collaboration with production teamRuns meetings with production team and actors Works with actors, helping them develop their performancesRuns and gives notes during rehearsals, tech/dress rehearsals and performancesRuns debrief meeting and discussion with production team

DramaturgThe term dramaturgy comes from German meaning, ‘dramatic adviser’

The Dramaturg’s RoleResearch the period in which the play is set to help the designers and cast get a ‘feel’ for the era the play is set inResearch the era in which the play was written and the world of the playwright – to help the director and cast get ‘into the head’ of the playwright to work out why certain characters, events and settings were usedTo research previous productions of the play to help the director, designers and cast with their own interpretationResearch various aspects of the script that the director, cast, or designers either need more information about or are unsure about

Set Designer

The Set Designer’s RoleConducts research based on initial concepts for setAnnotates examples of the set design from initial ideas/concepts through to final designConstructs and maintains the setAttends meetings with director and other members of production teamAttends debrief meeting with director and other members of production team

Lighting Designer

The Lighting Designer’s Role

Conducts research based on initial concepts for lightingAnnotates the script from initial ideas/concepts through to final design and lighting cuesRig, focus and plot lightingAttends meetings with director and other members of production teamAttends debrief meeting with director and other members of production team

Costume Designer

The Costume Designer’s Role

Conducts research based on initial concepts of costumeAnnotates examples of the costume design/s from initial concepts through to final design/s Makes and maintains the costumes and costume breakdown listAttends meetings with director and other members of production teamAttends debrief meeting with director and other members of production team

Hair & Make-Up Designer

The Hair & Make-Up Designer’s Role

Conducts research based on initial concepts of hair and make-up Annotates examples of the hair and make-up design/s from initial concepts through to final design/s Acquires supplies and conducts hair/make-up trialsApplies hair/make-up designs and maintains suppliesAttends meetings with director and other members of production teamAttends debrief meeting with director and other members of production team

Actor

The Actor’s RoleAnnotates script and conducts research based on initial ideasLearns lines and practices character role Attends rehearsals and workshops with the director and other cast membersAttends debrief meeting with directorTo bring their character and performance to life, actors need to use:Expressive skills

Involves using the voice, body, movement, gesture and the use of space. Basically these engage the physicality of acting through interpreting the character for performance

Compositional skillsInvolves the creation of belief, and the specific intent/focus of the actor through the realisation of character. Basically these are the interpretative skills that an actor uses in the creation of a character

Which roles interest you?

Go to:http://getintotheatre.org/job-profilesResearch three roles, relevant to our class project, which interest youAnswer these questions:

What’s involved in the role?What aspects of production are they responsible for?

How might this change in a school production run by students?