AQA GCSE Drama sample

Mrs Lyons, who is behaving in an increasingly unstable way, confronts Mrs Johnstone. Mrs Lyons lunges at Mrs Johnstone with a knife, but Mrs Johnstone fights her off. Linda, Mickey and Edward have three idyllic summers together, with both boys attracted to Linda, but neither declaring his love. As Edward prepares to go to university, he encourages Mickey finally to ask Linda out. Mickey gets a job at a factory. Linda becomes pregnant and she and Mickey get married. When Edward comes back for the Christmas holidays, he discovers an unhappy Mickey who has been laid off from his job. Edward and Mickey argue. Edward declares his love to Linda and she tells him that she’s now pregnant and married to Mickey. Sammy convinces Mickey to take part in a robbery. Sammy kills the petrol station worker and he and Mickey go to jail. When Mickey leaves jail, he is addicted to pills. Edward is now a Councillor. With Edward’s help, Linda arranges to get a new home and a job for Mickey. Mrs Lyons shows Mickey that Edward and Linda are meeting in secret. Armed with a gun, Mickey goes to the Town Hall where Edward is speaking at a council meeting. Afraid that Mickey is going to kill Edward, Mrs Johnstone tells him, ‘He’s your brother.’ Mickey is enraged, saying, ‘I could have been him!’ e gun goes off and kills Edward. e police shoot Mickey. Mrs Johnstone is left mourning her two sons. TASK 1 a With your group, create ten still images showing what you think are the most important plot points in the play. b In a group, discuss and then make a list of what you think are the biggest challenges in performing and designing the musical ‘ Blood Brothers ’. You might consider costumes, setting, sound and lighting, and the demands on the actors. For example: TIP Although ‘ Blood Brothers ’ is a play with musical numbers, you will not be tested on your knowledge of musical theatre techniques, such as singing or choreography. Instead, focus on how characters are created and the plot is developed. Timescale – showing characters getting older. Balancing the comic and serious elements. Showing the time period/context. Making the ending moving/sad. 52 COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA