VCE Drama focuses on the creation and performance of characters and stories that communicate ideas, meaning and messages using contemporary drama-making practices. Students engage with creative processes, explore and respond to stimulus material, and apply play-making techniques to develop and present devised work. Students learn about, and draw on, a range of performance styles and conventions through the investigation of work by a diverse range of drama practices and practitioners, including Australian drama practitioners.
Students explore characteristics of selected performance styles and apply and manipulate conventions, dramatic elements, and production areas, including sustainable ways to source and apply production areas. They use performance skills and expressive skills to explore and develop character(s). Within the scope of this study, students will create performances that include transformation of character, time and place, and application of symbol. The created works can occur in any space and be performed for any selected audience. The work created may pass comment on or respond to aspects of real-world issues including political, social and cultural. Students reflect on, analyse and evaluate the development and performance of their own work, and the work and performances of other drama practitioners.
This unit focuses on creating, presenting and analysing a devised solo and/or ensemble performance that includes real and/or imagined characters and is based on stimulus material that reflects personal, cultural and/or community experiences and stories. Such stimulus material could include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ stories, perspectives or experiences. This unit also involves analysis of a student’s own devised work, and the analysis of work by professional drama practitioners and performers.
Students apply play-making techniques to shape and give meaning to their performance. They manipulate expressive and performance skills in the creation and presentation of characters and develop awareness and understanding of how characters are portrayed within certain performance styles and in contemporary drama practices. They document the play-making techniques they use to explore and extract meaning from stimulus material, and document the exploration of production areas, dramatic elements, and conventions of selected performance styles.
Area of Study 1 - Creating a devised performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to devise, demonstrate and document solo and/or ensemble drama works based on experiences and/or stories.
Area of Study 2 - Presenting a devised performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to perform devised works to an audience.
Area of Study 3 - Analysing a devised performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to describe, reflect on and analyse the exploration and development of a devised performance to an audience.
Area of Study 4 - Analysing and evaluating a professional drama performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to analyse and evaluate the presentation of ideas, stories and characters in a drama performance by professional or other drama practitioners.
In this unit, students study aspects of Australian identity by engaging with contemporary drama practices as artists and as audiences. Contemporary drama practices are outlined in the terminology section of this study.
Students explore the work of selected contemporary drama practitioners, including Australian practitioners, and their associated performance styles. They focus on the application and documentation of play-making techniques involved in constructing a devised solo or ensemble performance. Students create, present and analyse a performance they devise based on any of the following: a person, an event, an issue, a place, an artwork, a piece of music, a text or an icon from a contemporary or historical Australian context.
In creating a performance, students engage with stimulus material to extract ideas and possibilities that allow them to explore an aspect or aspects of Australian identity, which could include engaging with the experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, colonial Australians, migrants, refugees, and/or urban and rural communities. They examine selected performance styles in relation to contemporary drama practices and explore the associated conventions, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and practitioners, and the broader diversity of Australian stories
Students analyse and evaluate their own performance work as well as undertaking an analysis and evaluation of a performance of an Australian work by professional actors, and develop an understanding of relevant drama terminology.
Area of Study 1 - Using Australia as inspiration
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to devise work and document play-making techniques used to create a solo or ensemble performance that reflects an aspect or aspects of Australian identity and reflects contemporary drama practices.
Area of Study 2 - Presenting a devised performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to present a devised performance that reflects aspects of Australian identity through the application of contemporary drama practices.
Area of Study 3 - Analysing and evaluating a devised performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to reflect on, describe, analyse and evaluate the development of a performance to an audience of their devised work.
Area of Study 4 - Analysing and evaluating an Australian drama performance
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to analyse and evaluate a performance by Australian practitioners.
Unit 1
A devised ensemble performance.
Analysis of the ensemble development and performance presented in one or both of the following formats:
an oral presentation
written responses to structured questions
A written analysis and evaluation of a play selected from the Unit 1 Playlist.
Unit 2
A one to three minute presentation of a solo response to stimulus material accompanied by a short written statement.
An end of year solo performance for an audience
A written report that analyses and evaluates the solo performance.
An end of year written examination
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