Drama a Level Essay Structure

Structure of Essay – A Technical Question
Introduction
Choose one main production and compare it with another production
Use your quote for one of the productions. Say whether you agree or disagree and why. Then do your 3 w’s. (when, what,
Paragraph 1
Discuss staging /style/set, give your personal opinion on this.
Discuss the interpretation of location (s)
Paragraph 2
Discuss the use of lighting/projections/special effects (and the effective ness (or not) of this) also discuss the use of sound
Paragraph 3
Discuss the design of costumes (period/colour/materials)
Give specific examples and also discuss audience response
Paragraph 4
Discuss the quote again and whether you agree or disagree with it giving your own personal response

Now do exactly the same as Paragraph 1-4 again for the SECOND production (Remember to introduce the second production using another quote and the 3 w’s and then write Paragraphs 5-8 based on 1-4)
Theatre Review – Technical

DO!!!:

  * Choose one main production and compare it with another production
  * Remember the 3W’s (What? When? Where?)
  * Discuss staging /style/set
  * Discuss the interpretation of location (s)
  * Discuss the use of lighting/projections/special effects
  * Discuss the use of sound
  * Discuss the design of costumes (period/colour/materials)
  * Give specific examples
  * Discuss audience response
  * Discuss your own personal response
  * Refer to critiques/review and whether you agree/disagree

DON’T!!!:

  * Spend too long describing the plot
  * Simply describe what you saw
  * Discuss the actors’ performances at all, unless relevant to the technical aspects in some way
  * Write general comments such as “the set was amazing”. . .or “The costumes were very believable” or “The lighting really helped the production . . .” You need to say HOW!!!!!
  * Forget to justify your comments
  * Forget that you are reviewing the technical aspects and reacting to a...