Week Eleven

The Next Assignment

 

After our successful performance and evaluation of our 'Scaramouche Jones' assignment, we concluded our first assignment, and this week we began our next assignment 'The Historical Development of Drama' presentation.  The week began on Monday 25th November, starting with an introduction to the assignment and our teacher began by giving us all a task.  After everybody in the tutor had been placed into pairs, our job was to do some research into the chosen subject for the assignment: the historical development of drama.  From previous research and knowledge we knew the historical origins of drama originated from Ancient Greece and developed with a new form of theatre known as Physical Theatre and learnt how it developed throughout history.

     The ancient Greek Theatre originated in 500 BC which introduced the three main theatre genres: Tragedy, which began in the late 6th century BC; Comedy, which began in 486 BC; and Satyr, which was a genre of plays where some of the theatrical forms to emerge into the world.  To begin with the purpose Greek Theatre was designed as a festival to honour their Gods.  Especially towards the Greek God Dionysus, the God of the grape harvest.  From recorded history we know that in 534 BC a contest was won by Thespis in Athens, resulting in him becoming the first recorded actor.  Greek Theatre also introduced the Chorus, which was a group of actors who described and commented upon the main actions of the play with song, dance and recitation.  Greek tragedy had it's beginnings in choral performances, in which a group of fifty men danced and sang dithyrambs; lyric hymns in praise of the God Dionysus.  In the 6th century BC Thespis engaged in dialogue with the chorus leader.  Choral performances continued to dominate the early plays until the time of Aeschylus, in the 5th century BC, who added a second actor and reduced the number of chorus performers to twelve.  Next came Sophocles, who added a third actor as well as increasing the number of chorus performers to fifteen.

     Theatrical presentation developed throughout history into creating Physical Theatre.  Physical Theatre is a cross between dance and drama where many forms of performance takes shape.  Many physical styles of theatre such as mime, Commedia dell'Arte, slap-stick clowning etc. can be categorised as Physical Theatre.  Any movement can also be called Physical Theatre.  The dictionary definition states: Physical Theatre is a term used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling through primary physical means.  A prime example of Physical Theatre use is with Jacques LeCoq, who was born in Paris, 15th December 1921 - 19th January 1999, he was a French actor, mime and acting instructor.  He is most famous for his methods of Physical Theatre, movement and mime which he taught at his founded school L'Ecole Internationale De Theatre Jacques LeCoq in Paris.

     More information about both subjects shall be added for when it comes to the presentation day on 17th December.

 

Our 'Footloose' Dance Performance

Another essential part of the week was our Movement assignment.  For week as a group we worked on creating a dance performance which we would be showing at the College's Winter Sharing Show.  It was an assignment in which the whole group had to participate in a dance performance, dancing to the 'Footloose' musical number.  It was very successful and entertaining, we received positive reviews from audience members, other performers in the show and our Movement teacher, who reviewed our performance.