In VCE Theatre Studies students interpret playscripts and produce theatre for audiences. Through practical and theoretical engagement with playscripts from the pre-modern era to the present day, students gain an insight into the history and rich possibilities of playscript-based theatrical production and develop understanding and appreciation of the role and place of the practitioner in theatre. Theatre practitioners develop, create and craft productions through research, contextualisation, visualisation and the application of stagecraft. The study covers roles in theatre practice including actor, director, designer, theatre technologist and theatre administrator/manager.
Throughout the study, students work with playscripts in both their written form and in performance, studying various areas of stagecraft that can be used to interpret these playscripts. Students study the contexts, that is, the time, places and cultures, of playscripts, as well as their language and theatrical possibilities. They explore ways that meaning can be constructed and conveyed through theatrical performance. They consider the audiences who will engage with their productions and incorporate knowledge and understanding of audience culture, demographic and sensibilities in their interpretations.
Students apply stagecraft to collaboratively and individually interpret playscripts and their theatrical possibilities. Through study of playscripts, contribution to the production of plays, and the application of stagecraft, students develop knowledge and understanding of theatre and its practices.
VCE Theatre Studies develops, refines and enhances students’ analytical, evaluative and critical thinking, and their expression, and problem-solving and design skills. Through study and practice in theatrical analysis, playscript interpretation and engagement in theatrical production processes, students develop their aesthetic sensitivity, interpretive skills, and communication, design, technological and management knowledge.
The study of theatre, in all its various forms, is relevant to students who wish to pursue further study in theatrical production, theatre history, communication, writing and acting at tertiary level or through vocational educational training settings or to pursue industry or community related pathways.
In this unit students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation. Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script. They use knowledge developed during this process to analyse and evaluate the ways work in production roles can be used to interpret script excerpts previously unstudied. Students develop knowledge and apply elements of theatre composition, and safe and ethical working practices in the theatre.
Students attend a performance selected from the prescribed VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 Playlist and analyse and evaluate the interpretation of the script in the performance. The Playlist is published annually on the VCAA website.
Area of Study 1 - Staging Theatre
In this area of study students focus on developing skills that can be applied to the interpretation of a script for performance to an audience. They work collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to contribute to the development of a production of a selected script. As members of the production team, students undertake exercises and tasks throughout the three stages of the production process and apply elements of theatre composition leading to a performance to an audience of the selected script.
Students develop an understanding of, and enhance skills in, working in two production roles across all stages of the production process. They apply dramaturgy and use elements of theatre composition in the work they undertake in the two production roles. They develop skills that contribute to the theatre production process, including thinking creatively and imaginatively, working collaboratively, time management, planning, scheduling and reflecting. Throughout the production process, students develop their oral skills through discussions with others in the production team or through explaining how their work in production roles contributes to realising the production aims. They develop knowledge about and apply safe and ethical working practices in theatre production.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles.
Area of Study 2 - Interpreting a Script
In this area of study students interpret the theatrical possibilities of excerpts from a script. In doing so, they demonstrate their understanding of working creatively and imaginatively in two production roles across the three stages of the production process. Students respond to and interpret script excerpts and stimulus material, formulating and justifying possible responses and documenting their interpretation. The documentation should include written material, annotated script excerpts and illustrations, as appropriate, to support interpretive choices. Students revisit their learning about the stages of the production process, elements of theatre composition, dramaturgy, compositional skills and ways that work in production roles can contribute to creative and imaginative interpretations of scripts for performance to audiences. The script excerpts used for teaching and learning and assessment in this area of study must be different to scripts studied for Areas of Study 1 and 3.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to outline concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and explain how these could be realised in a theatre production.
Area of Study 3 - Analysing and Evaluating Theatre
In this area of study students analyse and evaluate an interpretation of a script in a production from the prescribed VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 Playlist. Students analyse and evaluate the relationship between the written script and its interpretation on stage. In doing so, students study ways the interpretation on stage draws on and interprets the contexts in the script. This includes the decisions that have been made when interpreting the script, for example decisions about acting, direction and design and the use of theatre technologies and elements of theatre composition. Students evaluate the ways theatre practitioners, such as the director, actors, designers, or a dramaturg, have contributed to the interpretation on stage. Students study how the theatre styles and contexts implied in the written script are interpreted when the play is performed to an audience. Students analyse the theatre production and develop skills in using theatre terminology and expressions to describe how the script has been interpreted creatively and imaginatively.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate the creative and imaginative interpretation of a written script in production to an audience.
In this unit students study a scene and an associated monologue. They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process. Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.
Area of Study 1 - Researching and Presenting Theatrical Possibilities
In this area of study students document and report on dramaturgical decisions that could inform a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene. Students outline an interpretation of the scene, focusing on the ways in which the scene could be approached as a piece of theatre, including its place within the script, its specific structure, its characters, its themes, its images and ideas, its possibilities and its theatre styles.
Students conduct dramaturgy as the basis for decisions that will inform their interpretation. This includes research into the contexts of the script and influences on the playwright/s. Students consider how elements of theatre composition and theatre technologies could be employed to realise their proposed concepts and aims. They identify issues relating to safe and ethical theatre practices that they will need to apply in their work to realise their proposed interpretation.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and justify a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene.
Area of Study 2 - Interpreting a Monologue
In this area of study students focus on the interpretation of a monologue from a scene contained within a script selected from the VCE Theatre Studies Monologue Examination published annually on the VCAA website. Students select a monologue from the current examination and study the text of the monologue, the prescribed scene in which it is embedded and the complete script from which the scene is derived. Students apply selected production roles and develop an interpretation of the monologue that is informed by a study of the prescribed scene and the complete script and dramaturgy, including the contexts of the play. Students make decisions about how the contexts, theatrical possibilities, elements of theatre composition and theatre styles will inform their interpretation of the monologue. Students work in their selected production roles to realise and present their interpretation of the monologue. They consider the interrelationships between acting, direction and design. The interpretation should be prepared for a performance of the monologue by an actor in a single, clearly lit, relatively small space.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret and present a monologue and orally justify and explain their interpretive decisions.
Area of Study 3 - Analysing and Evaluating a Performance
In this area of study students focus on the analysis and evaluation of the acting, direction and design in a production selected from the prescribed VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4 Playlist. Students attend a production selected from the Unit 4 Playlist. They study the theatrical style/s evident in the performance and analyse and evaluate how actor/s, director/s and designer/s interpret the script for an audience. They consider the interrelationships between acting, direction and design in the performance. In doing so students consider character/s in the play, how the actor/s interpreted them on stage and the contribution of the director/s to this process. They study acting skills used by the actor/s to portray the character/s, including facial expression, voice, gesture, movement and stillness and silence. Students develop an understanding of other aspects of acting, direction and design, including artistic vision, focus, the use of elements of theatre composition, the use of verbal and non-verbal language to convey the intended meanings of the play and the establishment and maintenance of the actor–audience relationship.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate acting, direction and design in a production.
Unit 3
Unit 4
For more detailed information, please click on the link/s below: