Transcript Document

12 Areas of Stagecraft
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Over the next 2 weeks you will be
working on a small folio of stagecraft
ideas. You will be writing, drawing,
designing and describing your ideas and
concepts in response to certain stimulus.
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YOU ARE BEING ASSESSED on this so
make sure you are taking notes and
completing all set tasks!
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Stagecraft is a combination of all the
elements that create a
show/performance. These are the
elements that bring the show to life and
create a mood, feeling or atmosphere.
A cting
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D ramaturgy
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D irecting
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L ighting
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P rops
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P ublicity
C ostume
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M ake-up/Hair
S ound
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M ultimedia
S et
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S tage
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Management
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What the actors wear on stage. The
costume of a character tells the
audience about the characters
personality as well as the context of the
play. Where and when the show is set.
Defines the mood of the play and sets
the context. Lets the audience know
where the play is set. Eg. A jail, the
beach, a cinema.
 Some plays have multiple set changes,
where others use the same set/space for
various locations.
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All of the items that the actors interact
with. Can be sitting on stage or can be
brought in. Items could include: flowers,
sword, suitcase, glass of water, umbrella.
 Sometimes props can be transformed
into multiple objects.
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Lighting sets the mood for a show. It can
be used to highlight the action that is
happening on stage, or it could be used
to set the time of day/night.
 Eg. orange/red could be sunrise or
sunset.
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Publicity is use to promote the show. It
can include posters, tickets, the
program, commercials (radio and
television) presentations, fundraisers,
anything that gets the name of the show
out there to draw in an audience.
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Sound in a show can set the mood. You
can have sound effects that match the
action on stage or it can be music that
creates an atmosphere for the show. Not
all sounds are made using electronic
devices, something the actors
themselves make sounds.
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Multimedia can include slideshows,
movies and projections. This could be
used to set the location of scene or
could be used to give the audience and
the characters more information and
detail. Multimedia, when used well can
enhance the audience experience.
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Directing is all of the movements and
choices that the director has made.
Although the audience doesn’t see the
director at work, the finished product is a
result of all the directors choices. Music,
actions, emotions, the way lines are
delivered etc.
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This includes all the materials that will
potentially bring an audience to a show.
Posters, programs, tickets, interviews, ads,
public announcements etc.
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A Dramaturge will often edit and revise a
play script, they will adapt it and
recontextualise the play. The often work
with the director, cast and sometimes
the playwright, providing contextual
research. Eg. the time period the play is
set.
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This involves organising and coordinating
the production. This might include
rehearsal schedules, runs meetings,
organising auditions etc.
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Acting as an area of stagecraft is
extremely important. It involves the way
the actor plays a character and their use
of their expressive skills; voice,
movement, facial expressions and
gesture.