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ADA2OIPY Grade 10 Drama

Physical Theatre
All live theatre is physical in some way but theatre which accentuates
image and the physicality of the performer can create a vibrant and exciting style.
The ability to create a sense of place and action without the necessity of settings, props and costume
promotes a form where the actor is the centre of all stage effects. Physical Theatre is the craft of building
theatre through physical actions, characterization and stage composition. Physical Theatre uses as its primary
means of expression movement, dynamic immobility, gesture and a variety of acting techniques. Text, music,
costumes, and scenery are included in layers selectively. The context in which all of these elements are
blended is determined by the message the performers wish to communicate. The best performances tend to
affect their audience viscerally and proceed from instinctive rather than intellectual motivation. Physical
theatre tries to challenge both, the traditional, proscenium arch, and the traditional performer/audience
relationship by breaking the fourth wall.

TASK:

In groups of four or more players you need to create a scene in which you will try to involve your
whole bodies head to toe
You must create a sense of place and action without using sets, props and costumes. Actors should
use their bodies to create the props, set and the reality of the scene.
You must use physicality and stylization to create an interesting dramatic performance.
Use the movement of your bodies to create meaning.
To create a visually powerful scene you may have to rely upon the power of symbolism to achieve a
dramatic effect.
Try to challenge the performer/audience relationship by breaking the fourth wall in some way.
You need to agree upon Where, Who and What! Determine the conflict and Story.
Your scene should be approximately 5 minutes in length

Skills and Techniques to explore:


1. Physical: muscle strength; physical control; balance; breathing; lifting and catching; taking and
placing weight; use of levels and height; stamina
2. Vocal: breath control; projection; vocal range; creating and physicalizing sound; use of vocal
dynamics
3. Acting: character; rhythm; dynamics; tableaux; interaction; physical comedy; mime; spontaneity;
improvisation; spatial awareness; timing; style
4. Physical ensemble: trust; teamwork; cooperation; use of contact improvisation; lifting and catching;
Interaction
5. Dynamic quality: speed; flow; direction; use of contrasts; emotional quality; sense of performance
Physical Theatre Rubric
Categories
Level 4
80 100%
Knowledge
Physical theatre
principles (devising,
improv, physicality;
audience) A1.2

Staging Principles
(levels, triangles,

Demonstrates thorough
knowledge of principles of
physical theatre and the
discipline
Demonstrates thorough
knowledge of staging
principles

Level 3
70 79%

Level 2
60-69%

Level 1
50-59%

Demonstrates good
Demonstrates some knowledge Demonstrates limited
knowledge of principles, of of principles of physical
knowledge of principles of
physical theatre and the
theatre and the discipline
physical theatre and the
discipline
discipline
Demonstrates some knowledge
Demonstrates good
of staging principles
Demonstrates limited
knowledge of staging
knowledge of staging
principles
principles

Level
R

variety of positions)
A1.2

Thinking
Rehearsal/group
skills
A3.2
Devised Storyline
A1.1

Student contributes ideas, Student is usually working


feedback, and positive
with others to build scene;
energy to rehearsals; Tons of Good experimenting and/or
experimentation and/or
work effectively in a group
group work skills shown
Good exploration of story;
Excellent exploration of
Story is clear and mostly
story; surprising, moving; effective
well thought- out

Student contributes
occasionally to rehearsals;
Some experimenting and/or
somewhat effective group
work

Student is unfocused during


rehearsals; Limited
exploration and work skills
shown

Some exploration of story;


Story exploration is
Somewhat clear and effective limited/lacking
story

Communication

Excellent use of stage


Good use of stage
Satisfactory use of stage space; Ineffective use of space; little
space/blocking. Actions are space/blocking. Actions are some work needed on blocking evidence of blocking
always directed to audience directed to audience
Only somewhat challenges the Limited challenges to
Thoroughly challenges the Challenges the
audience/performer
audience/performer
audience/performer
audience/performer
relationship;
needs
to
break
the
relationship; no attempt to
Audience/performer
relationship by creatively
relationship by breaking the 4th wall more creatively
break 4th wall
A3.1
th
th
breaking the 4 wall
4 wall
Somewhat identifies and
Limited explanations of:
Thoroughly
identifies
and
Identifies
and
explains:
explains:
-purpose, aesthetic and
Rubric questions
explains:
-purpose, aesthetic and -purpose, aesthetic and
technical aspects of
-purpose, aesthetic and technical aspects of
technical aspects of
drama
B1.1
technical aspects of
drama
drama
- skills, attitudes, and
drama
- skills, attitudes, and
- skills, attitudes, and strategies strategies used in their group
B1.3
- skills, attitudes, and
strategies used in their group used in their group drama and drama and their usefulness in
strategies
used
in
their
group
drama and their usefulness their usefulness in other
other contexts
B3.1
drama and their usefulness in in other contexts
contexts
other contexts
Blocking/
use of stage
A3.1

Application
Actor Focus A2.1
Physical Acting
Techniques
A1.2
A2.2

Exceptional focus through


challenging material

Considerable focus onstage Occasionally focused in


performance

Actions and details are


Actions and details are
always exaggerated; whole exaggerated; whole body is
body is always used;
used; good muscle strength
excellent muscle strength
and stamina; good physical
and stamina; outstanding
control and balance; good
physical control and balance; use of levels and height
excellent use of levels and
height

Actions and details are


somewhat exaggerated; whole
body is often used; muscle
strength and stamina shown at
times; some physical control
and balance; some use of
levels and height

Vocal Techniques

Explores and uses voice


(projection; vocal range; techniques to support
creating and physicalizing the creation of
physical character
sound) A3.2
extremely effectively

Explores and uses voice


techniques to support
the creation of
physical character in
an effective manner

Production elements and


Music/Production
Elements (costumes) music thoroughly enhance
overall production.
A3.3

Prod. elements and music


are useful and connected to Prod. elements and m;usic
the story
show some thought

Theatre/audience
etiquette
C3.3

Actor is rarely focused in


performance
Actions and details are not
physicalized; limited use of
whole body, muscle strength
and stamina; limited physical
control and balance and use
of levels and height

Explores and uses voice


Explores and uses voice
techniques to support
techniques to support
the creation of physical the creation of physical
character in a somewhat character in a limited
effective way; needs
way
further exploration
Prod. elements and music are
limited

Thorough
Good understanding of
understanding of
theatre & audience
Some understanding of Limited understanding
theatre & audience
etiquette
theatre & audience
etiquette, in classroom
etiquette
and performance
contexts.

Rubric Questions: (Please answer all questions in full sentences. Please be detailed,
analytical and self-reflective about your process)
1. What role did you play when planning your group presentation? How could you improve your
effectiveness in this role?

2.

Identify and assess the contribution of your other group members in this project. Discuss leadership
and supporting roles, group dynamics, and cooperative problem solving during the process of creating
your performance.

3.

How were staging, blocking, text, music and costumes used to help enhance the physical aspects of
your performance? How did they help communicate information about the setting, characters and
action?

4.

What acting or personal skills did you learn/acquire working through this assignment?

5.

What specific things did you do in your performance to show your understanding of the techniques,
skills and principles of physical theatre? Discuss physical, vocal, acting, and ensemble skills and
techniques (ie. physical control; balance; breathing; taking and placing weight; use of levels and height; stamina; projection; vocal
range; creating and physicalizing sound; use of vocal dynamics; rhythm; dynamics; interaction; spontaneity; spatial awareness; timing;
use of contact improvisation; speed; flow; direction; use of contrasts)

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