Unseen drama Flashcards
How do you direct an actor relating to accent?
Accent: Firstly, establish where the play is set. If there is a clear setting, you could direct the actor to speak in the accent correct to the region. When it comes to Shakespeare, generally actors tend to speak in an English accent.
How do you direct an actor relating to eye contact?
Eye contact: If you are interacting with another actor on stage, make sure you make eye contact with them. Remember to react to what they are saying, even if you (as the actor) know what they are going to say. If delivering a soliloquy(a speech that no one else can hear) you may choose to look directly at the audience and, if you are confident that it will not distract you, you could make eye contact with various audience members.
How do you direct an actor relating to gestures?
Gestures: Most people express themselves using their hands – the character you are portraying is no different. Do not be ‘wooden’ on stage – move your hands, express yourself. If the character is talking about heartache, you may want to touch your heart. If the character is in pain, it is likely that they will clutch the area that is painful
If you are directing an actor on stage, consider the stage directions. A character might ‘freeze’ if they hear bad news, so make sure you take this into account when directing. A loud character will probably be rough with the props around them and might make flamboyant gestures, e.g. slapping their thigh to emphasise a point..
How do you direct an actor relating to tone of voice?
Tone of voice: At all times you must aim to engage the audience. A monotonous/boring tone is not going to get their attention. If the character is being sarcastic, make sure that this is reflected in your voice. If they are shy, they may talk quietly. Again, pay attention to the stage directions given. You should direct your actors to speak clearly at all times.
How do you direct an actor relating to emphasis?
Emphasis of certain words/expressions: In order to draw attention to what is important to a character, you may wish to emphasise certain words or phrases. This is especially important if the playwright has not used repetition.
Staging
There are many different stages a director can use and each offers different pros and cons with regard to the performance. Directors may select specific theatres due to the fact that they like their stage, or they may choose a theatre in which the stage can be rearranged. A theatre which has a stage that can be manipulated is called a flexible theatre. It is also known as a ‘Black Box’ theatre
Choose a proscenium stage.
How is lighting significant in plays and give examples
Lighting adds to the atmosphere and can be used to manipulate the audience’s emotions. Good lighting can convince us of a breaking dawn or an impending storm. It also highlights specific characters on stage and directs our attention to the parts of the action the director wishes us to take in. The person in charge of the lighting is known as the Lighting Designer. They in turn employ an Electrical Lighting Technician, who must be a qualified electrician.
Different types of lighting include
Spot lighting which has a hard edged effect
Fresnel is used for a soft effect is is good for overall light, flood is used to create a clear wide angle and finally strobe lighting creates a flashing effect makes a jerky effect
What types of costumes would you use?
I would use authentic consumes relative to the time period that the play is set in.
