Drama timings + tips

Whole exam:

3 hrs 8 mins

Section A:

56 mins

Section B:

1hr 15 over all - 10 mins reading, 32 mins per question

Section C:

56 mins

Live Theatre answer tips:

• refer to 3-4 key moments

• give lots of fine (intricate/specific/nuanced) detail

• refer back to question constantly

• TALK ABOUT EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY

• balance personal response with subject-specific terminology

• make use of both acting and design decisions

• Brief intro - give context to play

• use personal comments

• audience reaction

• write about key moments so someone who hadn’t seen it could imagine it

• What did it mean? Did it work? What did it communicate?

• Socio-economic knowledge - themes in play, how it impacted you (eg: parent’s + children separated etc)

That Face performer answer tips:

• Talk in first person (make clear you’re a performer, not a director)

• Talk about 4 key moments in the extract

• link to wider play at least 2 times (eg: ‘I would contrast this with my interaction with… earlier in the play which I…’)

• SHP context link 3 times

• Vocals: use detail on how specific words should be said, use of pauses, and vocal tone

• Physicality: high levels of detail, explain why you chose it, and what the effect is

Performer question - ‘stage space’ meanings

• proxemics

• movement

• body language

• physicality

• DONT OVER MOVE - use stillness too

That Face designer answer tips:

• link the design element to specific lines

• link to genre to inform choices?

• use subject specific terminology

• Use specific small and precise details on things like fabrics etc and what they are communicating

• Give clear account of how, and why you have made your choices