You will soon be diving deep into the NCEA Drama world of assessments. But also if you're wanting to look more in-depthly you can check out the Past Paper information here. Perhaps you're wanting to just see info on the Internals? Check this blog out here. Or if you would like a jump into the Study Guide there's always this to explore. Finally, if you would like to try your hand at Scholarship Drama then this could be helpful.
Get your directorial hat on with AS91512 and unpack the meaning of a script!
AS91512 is all about scripts! Here you will need to interpret a scripted text and integrate drama techniques. For this to be a higher mark the interpretation must be credible and done with a competence that enhances the text, has a sense of control and an element of purpose. What’s the interpretation? That’s all about how well you make choices that pertain to the text and your view on the script. How will you best bring out the meaning of the subject matter that you are trying to examine and unpack on stage? For example in the play Othello, will you portray Iago in a more subtle vindictive manner, to show his more tricky characteristics? Or will you go all out in his voice, bellowing out a scary and sharp tone to show his dominance in the scenes? These are choices you will need to think about for whatever character you play.
You will need agility in your ability to sustain selected drama techniques. This means you will showcase your character and scene choices of Voice, Body, Movement and Space. What are these? Well, you will go over them in length in class, but let’s quickly provide an overview. Voice is to do with pitch, pace, pause volume etc, Body is your use of gesture, eye contact, facial expression and stance. Movement is how you show your energy, direction and timing while Use of Space is to do with your audience awareness, exits and entrances and how close you are to other characters. As you will only be performing an exert of the play chosen, your selected part will need to reflect the wider character intentions and behaviours shown throughout the piece. Be prepared to annotate your script so your teacher knows what choices you have made and can look out for them when you perform. You’ll also need to give a clear intention for the performance. This will need to reflect the role, time, place, situation and action. To perform at an excellence level you’ll need to draw out layers of meaning to give an interpretation that has impact, is truthful and convincing.
The world is your oyster with AS91513: Devise your own world and perform the concept
This assessment has you in the driver’s seat- you’ll need to channel everything that you have learned to devise your own performance and have a realized concept at the end. This idea that you make will need to be original and show a sense of credibility. Some key components will be that it needs to have a high degree of flow and showcase dramatic unity. More components include being engaging and powerful for the audience to witness. As always with these assessments, you will need to provide and set a clear intention that addresses the concept of the piece. Included will be your consideration of time, place, action and situation. So, what does it mean to actually devise a piece? Well for starters, be prepared to experiment and fail. In order to get the final successful devised skit, having a high degree of trial and error is healthy in order to stumble across the good aspects. Techniques like improvisation will help you unlock the characters and be more certain of the intention of the overall piece. This will bring a high degree of structure and allow you to refine and shape what you are trying to communicate. Have fun with this assessment. You are given a voice to use for this one- unpacking your own perspective on something you are passionate about- so get stuck in!
Delve into a Drama form or period with AS91515
For this assessment, you’ll need to showcase your performance skills and flex them in the context of performing a drama form or period. This could be mask use for Commedia dell’Arte, Chorus use for Greek Drama and stock character and alienation devices for Epic Theatre. You will study types of theatre like these and in this assessment be expected to incorporate the elements that each type requires. So, demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the different aspects. The performance skills you use will need to deliver are showing a high level of control, a sense of purpose and dexterity. As always include your intention within the written work for this achievement standard. This will hold a reference to the role, time, place, situation and action plus notes about the audience. The performance can be scripted or devised but remember if it’s devised it must reflect all the conventions of the genre. Some other forms might include Restoration Theatre, Mime or Medieval Drama.
This is your time to pay homage to a drama practitioner with AS91516
Here you will need to show the intentions of a drama practitioner or theatre theorist. You will need to do this by showing how you perceptively come to understand the processes and elements within their work and how this reflects their overall intention. Who is a drama theorist? They are someone who has shaped theatre in an innovative and significant way. You’ll need to showcase their knowledge by practically demonstrating your understanding either in a research setting or a presentation.
Jump into a role for a significant production with AS91517
Get your acting muscles prepped! You’ll be playing a significant role in a high school production for this assessment. You’ll need to sustain this throughout the performance and showcase this in front of a live audience. You’ll want to be working with authenticity and coming across as convincing throughout. To do this maintain a sense of control and purpose in context to the wider play. To show a sense of depth is also a great way to go when performing your role. This will help you explore the layers of meaning that brighten the merits of the drama show. You’ll need to be consistent for this. Meaning you’ll need to attend all the rehearsals, learn all your lines, participate in activities and help to annotate your script with plans and documentation. This is not a directing task, so you’ll need to be open to direction and willing to participate with the wider group. The production will be amateur professional and have good production values, most people doing this assessment pick their school show to do this assessment in conjunction as it’s the easiest option.
Next up AS91519 will have you script a drama suitable for a live performance
This is another chance for you to showcase your original ideas and come up with your own script. The script must communicate intention, showcase characters and include feelings of dramatic tension and pacing. Bear in mind this devised piece will need to be well researched, go through the necessary drafts, be formatted and be structured well. You’ll be on your own with this assessment so make sure you have the support from your teacher with how you will go about it. The piece must be convincing and have a good sense of flow and overall unity to it, plus be performed with impact.
Finally, try your hand at directing with AS91520
This is where you get to showcase your directing chops! What’s included? You will need to research a text and analyze then translate this into a compelling performance. Within the research, you must label the intention of the playwright, label the themes and messages as well as establish the historical and social background of the piece. What will your directors’ concept be? And how will you bring this to life? As always like the other assessments, you will need to show a sense of competence, control and a sense of purpose with how you bring the text to life. There are also technical aspects that include casting the actors, making a rehearsal schedule and helping the production team. It’s about creating a positive experience and environment for all involved and being a strong leader.
Let’s get to those Exams, shall we? First up is AS91514 which will have you interpret a text to demonstrate knowledge of a theatre form
This is all about theatre forms and your knowledge of showing how much you know about them. You must be able to make a link from your selected text and the theatre form and what they have in common and their connections. Again, for higher marks, you will need to have a sense of perceptiveness with how the text relates to the theatre form.
The next exam is AS91518 which will have you demonstrate an understanding of a live theatre performance.
This is about how well you can connect the directors/designer’s concept with the drama components. Why was that prop used? Perhaps why did the blocking show this effect?
Why use the colour red in this scene? All of these questions will be answered in relation to what effect the director or designer was wanting to address and why. Remember drama components include conventions, elements, techniques and technologies.
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