Transcript Written Exam - Questions and Help

Section A
Question 1
For Section A you must choose one of your performances.
This question asks you to describe what the piece was about including the
style, performance space, period, genre and design and technical skills you
used. You also need to say what you did in this performance.
Describe what the piece was about – the basic story, where is was set, what the
characters were like and what you were hoping to achieve/what impact you
wanted to have on your audience.
Period – when the piece is set
Genre – this is the type of theatrical performance you did (comedy, tragedy,
western, romance etc)
Style – how you performed it (naturalistic, physical theatre, abstract etc)
Performance space – where you performed it (school hall stage and floor), what
type of staging you used (proscenium arch, theatre in the round, traverse etc)
and why.
You also need to include: The costumes you wore and why, the lighting/sound
and what role you played in this performance.
Section A
Question 2
You will be asked to explain the acting skills used in your performance.
You will probably be asked to discuss one moment or scene
The question might have a focus such as a scene where you created comedy
or tension.
You should focus on what acting skills you used and why. This might include:
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Voice (volume/accent/pace/timing/emotional range), movement,
gesture, facial expressions, posture…
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Characterisation/multi-roling/physical theatre
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Creation of moments of comedy, tension, passion, strong emotion
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Relationships with others on stage.
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Brief discussion of the impact on the audience.
BUT THE MAIN FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE ACTING SKILLS USED TO
CREATE THE CHARACTER/MOMENT/SCENE/EMOTION
Try to explain what skill you used to create the emotion and why you felt this
was needed.
Section A
Question 3
You will be asked to analyse a process you went through.
The question might ask you to consider:
•Any improvements or changes you made
•Strengths and weaknesses of the performance as a whole/as an individual,
•How the piece changed and developed in rehearsal,
•How your own skills changed and developed in performance.
You might discuss:
•Ideas/plans/approaches for improving the piece during rehearsals
•How your character changed/developed/how you prepared for the role
•How your character interacted with others
•How the pace/energy/focus changed or needed changing and why
•How well the transitions worked and whether they needed changing and why
•The use of different styles
•Problems with blocking
•Problems with whether actors could be heard.
•Difficulties staging a scene which involved several characters
•How you mastered an accent or a physical theatre approach
READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY. YOU WILL PROBABLY BE ASKED TO
COMMENT ON MORE THAN ONE ASPECT.
Section A
Question 4
You will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of your contribution.
You will need to state the intention of your piece (what you wanted to achieve)
and discuss how successfully you did this.
You might need to:
•Discuss the success of your contribution to the group.
•Discuss the success of your performance on stage.
•Discuss the impact on the audience (how they felt, at what moment and why)
•Evaluate what you learnt from working on the piece
•Discuss what you wanted to achieve, whether you achieved this and why/how.
•Discuss your strengths and weaknesses (as an individual or as a group)
•Discuss the process of working on the piece (how successful were your
rehearsals and why?
•Discuss how well you worked as a team to create a performance.
•Discuss how well you created an interesting, creative and unusual
performance.
Section B
Question 1
You will be asked to explain something about your performance of script
You might be asked to explain:
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How you created a character
What the acting challenges were for you in this piece
How you overcame any problems
How you prepared for your role
How you brought the script to life
How well you worked with others on stage
How your ideas developed and changed over time.
YOU MUST ALWAYS DISCUSS YOUR ACTING SKILLS
Section B
Question 2
You will be asked to analyse something about your performance of a
script. It should be the same script as you discussed in Question 1.
You might be asked to analyse:
• The effectiveness of your portrayal of a character
• How well you achieved your aims
• How well you worked as part of a group.
YOU MUST ALWAYS DISCUSS YOUR ACTING SKILLS
Section C
Question One
This question will ask you to describe an actor’s/actress’ performance. There will
probably be a specific focus (such as a performance which created comedy etc). Read
the question carefully.
The question will probably ask you to focus on one scene or moment or section.
You should describe, in detail, how the actor created the role using movements,
gestures, facial expressions and vocal expressions.
You should explain why each skill was needed – what did it tell you about what was
going on/what the character was feeling.
Emotion
Description of skill used
To show that I was scared, I screwed up my eyes, frowned and moved my head away
from him to show that I didn’t want him to hit me.
Why this was needed
Remember to introduce the production you saw.
Section C
Question 2
This question will ask you to analyse or evaluate the effectiveness of the
performance and/or production as a whole.
You should:
Discuss the same scene/section you used in question 1
Read the question carefully and make sure you are answering all aspects of it.
You might be asked to consider:
How well the actors worked together to create the performance
The impact on the audience and the impact on you (how it emotionally affected
you/what is made you think etc)
How effective the performance was (remember to discuss acting skills and
why/how they were effective).
The effectiveness of the whole production.
Consider what the actor(s) wanted to achieve. Did they achieve this? How?