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Drama and theatre skills

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do the four design elements of set, lighting, sound and costume create meaning and atmosphere for an audience?

The design elements for Edexcel Drama and Theatre: set, lighting, sound and costume, the specific vocabulary of each, and how a designer uses them to create location, mood, character and meaning for an audience (AO2, AO3).
A focused answer on the design elements for Edexcel A-Level Drama and Theatre (9DR0): set, lighting, sound and costume, the precise vocabulary of each design area, and how a designer uses them to create location, atmosphere, character and meaning for an audience.
12 min answer →

Who are the theatre makers in a production, and what does each one contribute to the meaning an audience receives?

The roles and skills of theatre makers for Edexcel Drama and Theatre: the performer, director, and designers of set, lighting, sound and costume, what each contributes, and how to write and think as a theatre maker rather than a reader (AO2, AO3).
A focused answer on the roles and skills of theatre makers for Edexcel A-Level Drama and Theatre (9DR0): the performer, the director and the designers of set, lighting, sound and costume, what each contributes to meaning, and how to write as a theatre maker across all three components.
11 min answer →

What are the staging configurations and conventions, and how does the choice of where the audience sits change the meaning of a production?

Staging configurations and conventions for Edexcel Drama and Theatre: proscenium arch, thrust, in the round, traverse, end on, promenade and site-specific staging, sightlines and the actor-audience relationship, and how the choice shapes the meaning a production communicates (AO2, AO3).
A focused answer on staging configurations and conventions for Edexcel A-Level Drama and Theatre (9DR0): proscenium, thrust, in the round, traverse, end on, promenade and site-specific staging, sightlines and the actor-audience relationship, and how the choice changes the meaning communicated to an audience.
11 min answer →

What are the vocal and physical skills a performer uses, and how do you write about them as deliberate choices?

Vocal and physical performance skills for Edexcel Drama and Theatre: the vocal skills (pitch, pace, pause, volume, tone, accent) and physical skills (posture, gesture, movement, stillness, facial expression, proxemics), used as deliberate choices to communicate character and intention to an audience (AO2).
A focused answer on vocal and physical performance skills for Edexcel A-Level Drama and Theatre (9DR0): the vocal toolkit (pitch, pace, pause, volume, tone, accent) and the physical toolkit (posture, gesture, movement, stillness, facial expression, proxemics), and how to justify each as a deliberate choice for an audience.
11 min answer →