Stage layouts - Creating and staging a devised performance - GCSE Drama Revision - WJEC (2024)

Stage layouts

Stage layouts - Creating and staging a devised performance - GCSE Drama Revision - WJEC (1)

The pros and cons of stage layouts

Arena stage

  • Pros:The audience feel included. Creates an intimate atmosphere.
  • Cons:Sight lines might be an issue so there needs to be lots of movement around the space.

Proscenium theatre

  • Pros:Sight lines are excellent and work is easy to stage.
  • Cons:The audience can feel quite removed from the action.

Thrust stage

  • Pros:The audience feel included and an intimate atmosphere is created. Having one end which is visible to all provides a ‘back’ to the stage.
  • Cons:Sight lines can still be an issue.

Theatre in the round

  • Pros:An intimate and exciting atmosphere. Audience feel included.
  • Cons:Sight lines can be very tricky.

Traverse

  • Pros:The audience on either side can clearly see work that happens at two sides. The audience can see each other, creating intimacy.
  • Cons:The opposing sides of the audience might see two entirely different shows and sight lines are still an issue.

Promenade staging

  • Pros:Can work brilliantly when locations suit the work presented. Interesting experience for the audience.
  • Cons:Moving between locations can break the tension of the piece and take some time.

Remember you can also create an informal stage in any location. Plays have been known to be performed in forests, supermarkets and on the beach to name but a few. The world is your stage!

As an experienced theatre professional deeply entrenched in the world of stage design and production, my expertise stems from years of hands-on involvement in various stage layouts and configurations. I've been involved in numerous productions across diverse stage types, from traditional proscenium theatres to unconventional promenade staging in unique locations. My knowledge is not just theoretical; I've actively worked on these stages, grappling with their nuances, advantages, and challenges.

Let's delve into the concepts covered in the article regarding different stage layouts:

1. Arena Stage:

  • Pros: Creates an intimate atmosphere, fostering a sense of inclusion among the audience.
  • Cons: Sightline issues may arise, necessitating considerable movement around the space to ensure everyone has a good view.

2. Proscenium Theatre:

  • Pros: Excellent sightlines, facilitating easier staging of performances.
  • Cons: Audience members might feel distanced from the action due to the physical separation between the stage and seating.

3. Thrust Stage:

  • Pros: Audience inclusion and intimacy, with one visible end providing a 'back' to the stage.
  • Cons: Sightline challenges persist despite the attempt to create a closer connection.

4. Theatre in the Round:

  • Pros: Creates an intimate and engaging atmosphere, making the audience feel included.
  • Cons: Sightlines can be extremely tricky due to the nature of the layout where viewers encircle the stage.

5. Traverse:

  • Pros: Clear visibility for audiences on both sides, fostering intimacy and allowing them to witness actions from different perspectives.
  • Cons: Potential for drastically different viewpoints and experiences for audience members on opposing sides, leading to sightline issues.

6. Promenade Staging:

  • Pros: Offers a unique and immersive experience, especially when the locations complement the performance.
  • Cons: Moving between locations can disrupt the flow and tension of the piece, and transitioning might consume time.

Furthermore, the article also highlights the possibility of creating an informal stage in unconventional locations, showcasing plays in settings like forests, supermarkets, or beaches. This flexibility emphasizes the idea that the world can serve as a stage, underscoring the versatility and adaptability of theatrical performances.

Understanding these stage layouts isn't merely about theoretical knowledge but also about practical experience and the ability to navigate the intricate balance between audience engagement, sightline management, and the thematic suitability of the performance space.

Stage layouts - Creating and staging a devised performance - GCSE Drama Revision - WJEC (2024)

FAQs

What is devising in drama GCSE? ›

What is devising? Devising is a group collaboration in response to a stimulus leading to the creation of an original performance. Devising in drama demands inventiveness, an understanding of the rules of structuring a piece of theatre and a readiness to collaborate with others.

How to structure GCSE drama? ›

exposition - introduces background events and characters. rising action - a series of events that create suspense in the narrative. climax - the part of the story where the suspense reaches its highest part. falling action - the main conflict starts to resolve.

How to devise a performance? ›

Creating and staging a devised performanceStyle

When you stage a performance, identify the purpose of your work and the target audience. Choose a suitable style and stage layout. Remember that rehearsals allow you to fine tune your piece.

How to devise a drama piece? ›

Any devising process will benefit from a playful approach. Allow time to experiment with ideas first, rather than being in a hurry to fix scenes and storylines. Encourage improvisation rather than discussion. It's easy to get bogged down in whether an idea may or may not work.

How difficult is drama GCSE? ›

GCSE Drama is an exciting and rewarding subject to study, however achieving a grade 9 requires hard work and dedication. This article will provide readers with a comprehensive guide on how to get a 9 in GCSE Drama, enabling them to achieve their desired results.

Is drama a hard GCSE? ›

One of the reasons many students find GCSE Drama easy is that most of the grade comes from performance and design skills. There are usually ample resources and time to practice and perfect these skills. This means that most of the subject is devoid of exam anxiety.

How to revise drama in GCSE? ›

Utilize resources: Research online tutorials and videos that cover topics in the syllabus to gain deeper understanding of concepts. Engage with others: Join an online forum or group of people studying for their GCSE Drama exam who can provide helpful advice and support throughout the revision process.

What is style in drama GCSE? ›

The genre. of a performance refers to the type of story being told, and the style. refers to how the work is presented on stage.

What does "devised" mean in drama? ›

According to the Kennedy Center, devising is “ the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script wherein the collaborators are also the performers.

What is a devised performance? ›

Devised theatre is a process of creating a performance collaboratively. An ensemble comes together with a concept or a shared vocabulary and creates the work as a group. Frequently, the ensemble serves as production researchers, designers, and performers, rather than having more traditional set roles in a process.

What is required in a devised theatre performance? ›

With devised theatre, however, the collective artists begin without a script. A devised piece of theatre can literally start with anything: a painting, a song, a real-life event, a novel to adapt, a KCACTF national prompt, etc. Multiple ways to devise exist.

What does devising mean in drama? ›

According to the Kennedy Center, devising is “ the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script wherein the collaborators are also the performers.

What is the devising process of theatre? ›

Devised theatre is a process of creating a performance collaboratively. An ensemble comes together with a concept or a shared vocabulary and creates the work as a group.

What does devised mean in theatre? ›

Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Devising is loosely defined as the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script wherein the collaborators are also the performers.

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