GCSE drama revision guide

• What will you be expected to show in the final exam?


  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how drama is developed and performed.
• In order to demostrate this skill you will need to apply the things you study to a what play?


  • Set play (The It) by vivienne Franzmann
• When a question asks you a question about an extract are you focusing on that extract or that extract and the rest of the play?


  • When being told to focus on an extract, you focus on that extract explaning what staging,lighting,sound or acting you would use.
• However when the question ask you to use the extract and the play as a whole what do you do?


  • It asks you to link your comments from the extract to the rest of the play and say how they are similar and different.
• If the question asks you to focus one element how many you going to focus on?


  • It's easy! Always read question carefully and ALWAYS do what the question has suggested. If it says state one element you state one element.
• Some exam boards may ask you shorter questions which build longer answers- they might also ask you about theatre roles and terminology or the play you've studied. What happens if this applies to you?


  • If this applies to you, you'll look at the number of marks avaliable for each question managing this time wisely!
• What are the three main perspectives an examiner will expect you to write about?


  • As an actor
  • As a designer
  • As a director
• When asked a question about a performer what do you need to think about?


  • You'll need to think about how you use your performance skills to potray a certain character. This will include a combination of physical and vocal skills.
• When asked a question about a designer what will you need to think about?


  • As a designer, you'll need to come up with design ideas that will enhance the impact of the play. This requires good understanding of design elements like set, sound and lighting.
• When asked a question about directing what will you need to consider?


  • You'll need to consider how you would bring the written text to life on stage. You'll be asked to focus on one element of the production, rather than the play as a whole.
• No matter what perspective you are writing from, what are some general points that you need to consider?


  • Playwrights Intentions
  • Context
  • Roles of theatre makers
  • Characteristics of Texts
• How do you incorparate the playwright's Intentions into your answer?


  • Think about what the playwright is trying to achieve and how this could be interpreted. Make sure you look and consider the stage directions.
• How can you incoparate the context into the final exam?


  • Identify any aspects of the historical, social and cultural context that might have an affect on the way it's performed,designed and directed.
• What is historical context?

  • Historical context refers to any major events that happened at the time of the play was written or set, for example religious conflict or political upheaval.
• What is social context?

  • Social context is the way most people thought,behave and lived at a given time, which includes things like class, gender roles and attitudes towards race.
• What is cultural context?

  • Cultural context refers to any trends or interests that were popular at the time, such as music, films and television.
• How do you incoparate the role of theatre makers in your writing?

  • Develop an understanding of the roles and responsiblities of theatre makers in bringing the text to life, as well as any challenges they might face.
• What is a theatre maker?

  • 'Theatre maker' is the term given to anyone who is involved in staging a performance. Playwrights,directorss, performers and costume designers are all examples of theatre makers.
• How can you incoparate the characteristics of texts in your performance?

  • Pick out IMPORTANT details about the text (e.g. Style, Genre and structure) and consider the ways these might be communicated to the audience.
• What 4 aspects do all top markers in drama have in common?

  • Technical language
  • Examples from the play
  • Detailed suggestions
  • Effect on audience
• What is it meant by Technical language?

  • Use of accurate terminology to describe each aspect of a production, such as performance skills, design features and stage configurations.
• What does 'examples from the play' mean?

  • Include examples (e.g. quotes, context or events) that demonstrate understanding of the play and support the point your making.
• What does detailed suggestions mean?

  • Give specific details on how you would perform, design or direct a production that will help the examiner to visualise your ideas.
• What does the term 'effect on audience' mean?

  • Describe the desired effect of a production on the audience, as well as how this effect might be created using theatrical techniques.
• When faced with an extract from your set play what are the three things you need to consider?

  • Read the question carefully.
  • For shorter questions you'll only need to pick out one or two ideas from the extract.
  • Your answer should be coherent - not just a list of different possiblities for the extract.
• What do you mean by read the question carefully?

  • Read through and highlight any important words or phrases (including stage directions). You might also want to annotate the extract as you go along.
• Why for a shorter question you only have to pick out one or two ideas from the extract?

  • For a shorter quuestion, you'll only need to pick out one or two ideas from the etract and expand. For example, if you start writting about a naturalistic approach, don't swap to a non-naturalistic approach half way through.
• Exam Tip!

  • For all questions, just remember- This. Is. Drama! It is easy to lapse into analysing the performance text itself, but that's not what GCSE drama is about. In a written exam, you need to put yourself in the shoes of a theatre maker-not an english student.
• What should short answers be?

  • Short answers should be concise.
• What does concise mean?

  • Giving a lot of information in just a few words;breif but not comprehensive.
• How would you tackle a question a costume designer?

  1. Consider the play's setting as that could have an impact on the type of costume a characters wearing. (Give a brief destription)
  2. Give precise details (E.g. colour and material) to make your design ideas easier to visualise.
  3. Demostrate from your design ideas how this links to the character and uses it to support the choice of the costume.
• Although it's good to keep your question concise what other two factors are important for your answer?

  • Back up your ideas with examples from the play.
  • link everything back to the question.
• How would you tackle a question as an actor playing a certain character?

  1. Start off your answer with something on the lines of 'In this extract' this states your intentions and shows that yoou have a good understanding of the charcter.
  2. Use vocal skills and incoparate certain quotes that will back up your arguement. (I would use a casual tone when saying 'I didn't feel about her as she felt about me' to reflect how unfeeling Gerald is towards daisy).
  3. When a question asks you for two vocal skills you should also give two examples of how you are going to use that vocal skill.
• If you have a longer answer should it go into more detail or less detail.

  • In these questions you get to show off your drama knowledge so use as much detail as you can and try to go into depths with things.
• I'm struggling on the longer questions can you explain to me each bit step by step?

  yes! In this question you are a set designer.

  1. Make it clear to the examiner what you want your set design to show.
  2. Explain your ideas using accurate technical terms (cyclorama)
  3. Demostrating an awareness of setting and applies to the set design.
  4. Describe the effect of your set design would have on the audience.
  5. Use quotes to tell the examiner which part of the extract you are talking about.
  6. Correct terminology e.g I would have the table centre stage.
  7. Link your ideas back to the plays context.
• Exam tip: Exams are tricky- and that's the long and short of it...

  • Nobody said the written exam was going to be easy, but there's no need to panic! Everything will seem much less difficult once you've got to grips with the techniques for writing shorter and longer answers.