AQA GCSE Drama Student Book: Revised Edition

Sound effects which could aid the creation of the context include: soundscapes to establish the different locations in Berlin an Australian radio programme gardening equipment, such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers a ringing telephone car engines aeroplanes rain birds, insects and other wildlife from South Australia. TASK 7 The play mentions a Leonard Cohen song, ‘Famous Blue Raincoat,’ that Fran used to play ‘over and over’. Listen to it and make notes on the mood and lyrics and why the song would have been important to Fran. TASK 8 Another aspect of sound design is knowing when silence is important. With a partner, choose at least three moments in the play that might be enhanced by silence. Discuss the impact silence would have. Lighting To help establish the context, you could use lighting which replicates that in a suburban Australian home, such as table and standard lamps. There could also be garden lighting, such as outdoor lanterns or fairy lights. Your lighting design could establish the time of day, season and different locations. For example, would you use different-coloured gels for the scene in Berlin from the ones in Australia? Using gobos and other specialist equipment, it is also possible to create effects such as leaves and trees, clouds, rainfall and architectural features. Think about how lighting could create a sense of movement when characters are travelling in cars or planes. CHALLENGE Research music that is popular in 21st-century Australia. Suggest at least three moments in the play where the use of particular songs would support the play’s action. KEY TERM: Soundscape: a collection of sounds that create a setting or suggest a scene, or a drama technique where performers use their voices (and sometimes other items) to create sounds. TASK 9 a Read the play’s opening scene in your group. Make notes on possibilities for sound and lighting design. b Work through the scene, stopping to agree effects that would suit the action and mood of the scene. Consider: music lighting effects sound effects transitions. 80 COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA