Drama DNA by Dennis Kelly

eduqas gcse higher drama

What are the aspects of comedy in DNA

1) Leah fails to predict the future
2) Jan's and Mark's duologues could be played humoursly

Name some aspects of the genre Tragedy?

1) Serious themes
2) Upsetting for the audience
3) Most of the characters are worse off by the end than they were at the beginning
4) Downfall of the main character due to their "flaw"

What serious themes does DNA deal with?

1) Guilt and Responsibility
2) Power and Group Dynamics

Name upsetting moments in DNA

1. Brian becoming mentally unstable due to him having to keep the secret of Adam's death
2. Phil pulling the bag over Brian's head

What characters are worse off than before?

1) Jan and Mark now steal
2) Cathy has become a bully
3) Phil goes from leader of the group to being isolated from the group

Which character's downfall is because of their "flaw"?

Downfall of Phil is because he is determined to protect the group at expense of individuals which leaves him alone and outside of the group.

What is in-yer-face theatre?

1) Gritty plays containing obscene language and violence that is distressing for the audience
2) Voicing social messages that are shocking/uncomfortable for the audience

What is the effect on the audience by switching between comedy and tragedy?

1) Tension is constantly being built and released which keeps the performance interesting for the audience

2) The audience is always guessing if the play will end happily or sadly

name a few rehearsal techniques

Hot seating
thought tracking
freeze frames

describe hot seating

when an actor answers questions in their role to deepen the understanding of the character but its used when given circumstances are necessary

describe thought tracking

you say your inner thoughts out loud

describe freeze frames

focus on facial expressions and the physical aspect of the acting

describe the social class of DANNY

aspirations to work in dentistry
higher middle class
has a defiant desire to go into a well paid career
willing to get a good education although not compulsory
low status in the group as he is ignored regularly

describe the social class of JAN

lower middle class
doesn't respect the law like Danny
doesn't have big aspirations
does respect family "that's when I went home"
not talked to very often
less confident to have individual opinion
doesn't want to take responsibilities

describe the social class of the whole group

lower middle class
group of misfits
peer-pressure Brian (bully)
neglected by society
trouble with the police
swearing

describe John Tate's motivation

wants to be listened to
wants to keep the group calm and controlled
wants to stand as the leader of the group
convinces the group that everything is okay
wants to maintain his position in power in the social hierarchy
wants to keep the situation quiet

describe Mark's motivation

wants to grow in power and to be known that he found Adam - the hero
he knows he is responsible if the situation gets worse
negating/denying the responsibility
says its Adams fault as he was part of the joke

describe Leah's motivation

trying to attract Phil's attention and get a positive reaction from him
will do something violent/dangerous for him
impress Phil and show her power
flatter Phil - everyone feels better because of him "Everything's much better though"

describe Cathy's motivation

wants to impress her peer group
tries to justify herself "I showed initiative"
show she's trustworthy
convince them that she didn't make a mistake and that she can help out with the plan
she wants to be respected by John more than Danny as she knows people won't pick on her.
she wants excitement

describe Richard's motivation

aspires to be the leader of the group
wants to receive more respect by his peers
wants to fit in more
wants to be respected and be on the good side of John Tate
wants to stand up for himself

describe Brian's motivation

wants to fit in with the group and have more attention
wants to tell someone - do the right thing
wants peace

describe John Tate's character

manipulative and assertive - the initial leader
threatens Richard - wants to stay at the top of the social hierarchy and remain the superior leader
very frustrated and irritated - bans the word 'dead'
tries to be assuring as well as patronising - "we have to keep together"
everyone's scared of him "yes

describe Richard's character

just below John in social authority
tries to questions and intimidate JT
wants to be the leader "you shouldn't threaten me

describe Cathy's character

finds the situation exciting - different to the rest
"isn't this better than an ordinary life"
very lively

describe Danny's character

tries to assert himself above Cathy but fails
cares a lot about his future - "Dental College"
tries to please JT and agrees with him - social protection
worried about how the 'death' of Adam will affect his future and career "I've got a plan - this wasn't part of the plan"
tells Cathy to "shut up"

describe Brian's character

quite shy - only speaks to someone when they speak to him first
has the human reaction to the problem

Leah is...

Talkative

Phil is...

Uncommunicative

Cathy is...

Excitable

Adam is...

Confused

John Tate is...

Controlling

Brian is...

Honest

Richard is...

Defiant

What genre is DNA?

Tragedy or comedy

What is naturalism?

Theatre that aims to recreate real life on stage and make audiences think that what they're watching is real.

What does the wood symbolise?

Isolation from society

What does the field symbolise?

More open than the wood

What does the street symbolise?

Familiarity with audience

What atmosphere does the wood create?

Claustrophobic and conflicting

What atmosphere does the field create?

Calm and reflecting

What atmosphere does the street create?

Uncertain and tense

cyclorama

back drop

LED flood batons

lights up the cyclorama?

Thrust and end on

possible staging?

Costume

Include Colour
Cloth
Condition
Hair /makeup

ambiance/ambience

Sound to signal sense of location

underscoring

Putting music to create a sense of culture and time period - usually under dialogue

floods

Create a whole stage wash with....

45 degrees

rigg profile lanterns at....

gel

Used to change the colour in a profile lantern?

Straw and steel

What colours suggests daytime?

gobos

Can be fitted in lanterns to get the illusion of trees or leaves

Phil

-Nihilistic
-Callous
-intelligent

Leah

-Craves Phils attention
-Socially anxious
-Emotionally intelligent

John Tate

-Insecure about status in group
-Belligerent
-Prone to violence

Cathy

-Social climber
-Impressionable
-ignorant
- off kilter

Richard

-Aware of danger in situation
-Indecisive
-Angry towards members in his group

Brian

-Vulnerable
-Neurotic
-Susceptible

Lou

-anxious
-introverted
-conventionalist