Super Curriculum Drama
Year 8
Read
Shakespeare monologue ‘Reason Thus with Life…’
This is from the play Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
Here is some information about it:
These lines spoken by the Duke of Vienna, disguised as a friar, to Claudio in Act III. He is, quite coldly, pretending to try to make Claudio ready for his execution. He knows, however, that Claudio will not really be executed, because he is the Duke (in disguise) so he can stop Claudio’s execution, which is what he does in the end. He does want Claudio to worry a bit though, as Claudio has not been well behaved. So, he goes to see Claudio in Claudio’s prison cell…
DUKE: Reason thus with life:
If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing
That none but fools would keep. A breath thou art,
Servile to all the skyey influences
That doth this habitation where thou keep’st
Hourly afflict. Merely, thou art death’s fool,
For him thou labor’st by thy flight to shun,
And yet runn’st toward him still. Thou art not noble,
For all th’ accommodations that thou bear’st
Are nursed by baseness. Thou ’rt by no means
valiant,
For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork
Of a poor worm. Thy best of rest is sleep,
And that thou oft provok’st, yet grossly fear’st
Thy death, which is no more.
Try to work out what he is saying to Claudio. How would you do the speech? You can record yourself (audio or video) doing the speech after you have tried to learn it. Imagine you are talking to Claudio.
Watch
The National Theatre Production of Treasure Island. After you have watched it, write a short 250-word review, saying what you thought about the production; what you thought was effective and why; what you thought about how the various actors played their parts/ characters; and what you noticed about the staging and the set design. School login is available – ask Mr Jones or Mrs Thaker. (Can post on Super Curriculum, etc.)
Listen
Speech: Ralph Fiennes plays ruthless Richard: ‘I can add colours to the chameleon’
Listen to the speech and explain what Richard wants in this speech? What would he do to get it? Explain in a short report of no more than 250 words.
Do
The quiz on stage positioning on BBC Bitesize.
Listen to the revision lesson first:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zbwnmfr/revision/2
Then, take the test:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zbwnmfr/test
Take your time and make a note of your score. Send your score in.
Year 9
Read
Read up on two theatrical practitioners that you are interested in. Choose from the following: Bertold Brecht, Konstantin Stanislavksi, Ute Hagen, Frantic Assembly, Augustin Boal or Steven Berkoff.
Summarise their ideas in 150 words each practitioner (theatre idea-maker).
Watch
The National Theatre production of One Man, Two Governors.
After you have watched it, write a short 300-word review, saying what you thought about the production; what you thought was really effective and why; what you thought about how the various actors played their parts/ characters; and what you noticed about the staging and the set design. How did the actors use comedy effectively?
School login is available – ask Mr Jones or Mrs Thaker. (Can post on Super Curriculum, etc.)
Listen
to the BBC bitesize summary of how performers use physical skills:
A performer’s use of physical skills can help to convey lots of important information to the audience and helps to show a character’s emotions. Performers use a range of physical skills to help transform themselves into the character they are playing.
Do
The Quiz review of this section (A Performer’s Use of Physical Skills) on BBC Bitesize:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z42vhbk/test
Make a note of your score and send it in.
Listen to the BBC Bitesize summary of Staging:
There are many different types of staging, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities when creating a performance:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zv8h7nb/revision/1
Do: The Quiz review of this section (Staging) on BBC Bitesize:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zv8h7nb/test
Make a note of your score and send it in.
