M4 Soap Opera Project

Your research assignment is as follows:
In what ways are Soap Operas a late Twentieth Century continuation of the Naturalism theatrical tradition?
In order to succeed in this essay you must first define Naturalism and Soap Operas. Below are some web links to help you in your research. Don't forget to cite any sources which you end up actually using in your essay, even if you don't quote from them directly. 700-1000 words in length, please.
http://www.wayneturney.20m.com/naturalism.htm
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0040425.html
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-42199/Western-theatre
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/soapopera/soapopera.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_opera
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-79UNG3?OpenDocument
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/teflupdate/0,,1098925,00.html
You have been given a copy of the assessment rubric for this task as well as a breakdown of the steps you need to follow in order to create a well structured essay. Don't forget that I want to know your opinion on the question as well as to see how much you understand about the two genres. Don't forget to include reference to the Guiding Question: How do Soaps reflect different elements of, and relationships within, different societies? Good luck!

Caucasian Chalk Circle

The M5 class are about to stage a production of Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle. Appropriate A common text for study in many schools, the geographical locations and political issues of the play have never been more appropriate for exploration by TISA students. Here is a link to a fellow blogger who has created a timeline of events in Georgia. Why might understanding the history of Georgia impact on our production concept?

Here are some other productions for you to look at to help you with your research.

Mark Nicholls, a Seattle based theatre composer

The National Theatre of England

Heidi Hoffer's set designs

An Afghani Theatre company video clip

A two and a half hour version!! Some great designs

And another video clip

There is a Youtube posting featuring one of Grusha's songs but it is about children in war and the images are very disturbing. The opening shot is of two Sri Lankan child soldiers. Please don't watch it if you are likely to be upset by this source.

M4 Children's Musical Theatre

So, we have read The Gruffalo, and watched Tall Stories Theatre Company's performnace of the same story. In groups we have analysed what are the elements that make up children's theatre specifically. Now we have a list of questions that need answering. As well as the primary sources you are using (primary teachers, the library and librarian, children themselves!) I have put together a few websites of children's theatre companies for you to look at. Find some answers but also see what inspires you, provokes you, gives you new ideas and questions....

Oily Cart - works with children, often disabled children

Tricylce theatre - theatre, cinema and events

Unicorn theatre - creates original children's theatre and hosts visitors

Polka - original children's theatre

Moscow State Children's Music Theatre - dedictaed children's theatre

Turnitin.com

Here is a link to the quickstart for students pdf on turnitin.com You have a class id and password which I will give to you in class.
Here's to a plagiarism free year!
Turnitin.com

M4 & M5 design critiques

Use the images below to complete your design critique. There are more on the network if none of these appeal to you.

This is the task you have been set:

You have now experienced the design process in practice as well as undertaken research into many aspects of theatre design. Use this knowledge and experience to choose a costume or set design from the options on the blog. Print out the design you have chosen and, either in note form or essay form, critique the design. Comment on the techniques used and why you think the designer has employed them.

The rubric is in your hand out pack. Good luck!

The DREAM team

Are you a part of the Dream...?
If you are, you need to get singing and dancing. Here are some links to videos. Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, Philostrate and Demetrius need to become Wham! and their backing singers. I know you can do it. The mechanicals need to also watch the dance moves and start to get swinging their arms in that way.

Prince Charming is Theseus and the fairies - watch the arms. We are doing a shorter version as it goes on for a long time!

Ah, and especially for the Mechanicals, here is Come on Eileen..

Enjoy!

Silk Road Project

M5 are working with the art and mysic classes as they explore the transmission of cultural ideas along the Silk Road. What is globalisation? Is it a good or a bad thing? Is it a modern phenomenon? How do the cultures along the Silk Road differ and what are the similarities? As well as silk, salt and oil being traded, ideas and values also shifted and moved with the traders. How have these changed the world views of the cultures along the trade routes? Can we hear evidence of cross-cultural fertilisaiton if we listen to music from different regions? Can we see similarities and differences between the religious observances? How does theatre develop from religion and mythology? All these questions and many more will be explored. Use links on the right to help you with research for your presentation or essay.

the arch villain in a processional ta¿zia, Mehriz, 1977. image take from http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v12f5/v12f5036d.html

M4 & M5 design projects

Here are some links to help you in your research and design process:

Click on this example of a set design collage for more information, and check out this link for info on costume design.

Artslynx has loads of links on theatre design - have fun browsing!

M5 and M4 Drama - the new year begins

Welcome back to drama. M4 are undertaking a Foundation course, looking at key skills and ensemble building. As they look at issues such as Trust and Spontenity, they are asking themselves the guided question: How does my behaviour affect those around me?

M5 are working on similar material but in a more focused way as they study the skills of improvisaiton and engage in a few rounds of Theatre Sports.

Follow the link below to find out more about Theatre Sports the authour of the book we have been reading in class, called Impro - Keith Johnstone.

http://www.theatresports.org/en/index.php

ISTA

April saw four visiting schools from as far afield as Jakarta and Zurich, joining us to make drama for a weekend under the guidance of a team of professionals from The International School's Theatre Association.

Everyone enjoyed meeting new people, learing new skills, seeing Baku through new eyes and creating meaningful performance work. You have to take part in an ISTA festival to really understand how special it can be. Are you coming with us to the Eden Project next year?

Tha Arabian Nights

Well done to the thirty five members of our Secondary School who acted and sang their way through the Secondary School play last week. This was a true ensemble performance, where everyone had a vital role to play and all were deemed equally important. With no 'star vehicle' everyone was a star!

The Myth of Prometheus

M1A recreate the myth of Prometheus using freeze frame, or tableau. this is a dramatuc device which allows us to distill the action into a key moment so the audience can take stock of what is happening. It allows the actors to think about what is importnat in the scene they are working on and is a good tool for practicing shaping the image that we see on stage, as well as developing really good discipline as a performer. It's hard to stay still and look fierce without laughing!

M1 Diorama work

Here are M1 hard at work rehearsing the dialogue for their environmental issues diorama puppet shows.

Arabian Nights Costumes

You have been asked to get together your own basic costume. Here are some ideas for you!

M4/5 Physical Theatre

Have fun doing your research this weekend. Remember that I don't want an essay in your DW. I want to see what you think is interesting, unsual, weird etc, in the practcies you read about. What questions does your research pose? What links can you see between what you read and what we are doing in class right now? How might you take some of these ideas and apply them to your living art gallery on Monday?

Here are still images of students re-creating their chosen piece of art work.

M4/5 Physical Theatre

The Art Gallery Project

As part of this project, you have been asked to undertake some private research into physical theatre practitioners: their work and ideas. Use the links in the right hand margin to explore the work of Complicite, Jacques Lecoq and DV8. Don't forget to make notes and record your own responses, thougths and ideas. How might these groups' ways of working be used by you and your class mates? What do you think of the idea of 'physical theatre'?

Coming soon to a theatre near you...

King Shahriyar had become disgruntled with the unfaithfulness of women, and vowed to have a new wife each night. Each was to be executed the following morning.
Shahrazad, when her turn came, enacted a clever plan. Each night her sister Dunyzad would come into their room and request a story. The King became so entranced by Shahrazad's stories that he would long to hear the conclusion of each one; and night after night Shahrazad would leave him in suspense, thus earning herself a further stay of execution.

M4/5 Soap Opera Project

Your research assignment is as follows:

In what ways are Soap Operas a late Twentieth Century continuation of the Naturalism theatrical tradition?

In order to succeed in this essay you must first define Naturalism and Soap Operas. Below are some web links to help you in your research. Don't forget to cite any sources which you end up actually using in your essay, even if you don't quote from them directly. 700-1000 words in length, please.

http://www.wayneturney.20m.com/naturalism.htm

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0040425.html

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-42199/Western-theatre

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/soapopera/soapopera.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_opera

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-79UNG3?OpenDocument

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianweekly/teflupdate/0,,1098925,00.html

You have been given a copy of the assessment rubric for this task as well as a breakdown of the steps you need to follow in order to create a well structured essay. Don't forget that I want to know your opinion on the question as well as to see how much you understand about the two genres. Don't forget to include reference to the Guiding Question: How do Soaps reflect different elements of, and relationships within, different societies? Good luck!

This essay is due to me by 3:30pm February 4th.