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Objectives
This activity will help you to understand the impact that stage type can have on your performance. You will have the chance to perform a short extract from Romeo and Juliet on two different stage layouts, and work out the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
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Outcomes
By working through this activity you will:
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create a visual record of key moments of your group’s performance on a proscenium and thrust stage.
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Resources
To complete the activities you will need access to:
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Kar2ouche Rehearsal Room Content Library
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Sheet 9.1 Act 3 Scene 5 - Study Questions
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Sheet 9.2 Script
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Sheet 9.3 Evaluation Questions
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1. First read Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet from Capulet’s entrance until his exit. Decide who will take on the roles of Juliet, the Nurse, Capulet and Lady Capulet; the rest of the group will be the audience for this performance.
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2. In your group, discuss the study questions on this extract (Sheet 9.1 Act 3 Scene 5 - Study Questions) to prepare for your performance. There is a shortened version of the script available (Sheet 9.2 Script) for you to use in your performance.
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3. Mark out the performance and audience areas for a proscenium stage using bags and chairs. Rehearse, and then perform the extract for your audience.
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4. (Audience) Use Sheet 9.3 Evaluation Questions to help to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your group’s performance. You may need to move around during the performance so that you can check that the action can be seen and heard from every angle.
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5. (Performers) Listen carefully to the feedback from the audience members of your group and see if you can work out how to overcome any of the problems they identify for you.
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6. Now mark out the performance and audience areas for a thrust stage (using bags and chairs as before), and swap roles so that audience members of the group now have a chance to perform. Make sure the new audience have copies of the Evaluation Questions.
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7. (Performers) Try out the extract on this stage layout and listen to the feedback from your audience. Work out any improvements and perform the extract again.
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8. You will have the chance to discuss the effects that the stage layout had on your performance with the whole class at the end of the session. You may need to demonstrate some of the problems and solutions you have discovered. See if you can work out the main strengths and weaknesses of these two stage types from both the audience’s and actors’ points of view.
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9. Using Kar2ouche, create a storyboard summary of key moments from your group’s performance on each stage type. Use the caption window to highlight the problems and solutions you discovered, and to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of both layouts.
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10. If you have time, you could select a third stage type (for example, in the round) and see if you could adapt the extract to this layout.
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