AQA GCSE Drama sample

SET PLAY 2: ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy Russell 2 Practical exploration of the play’s style and themes When writing about performing roles in the play, you must demonstrate that you understand the characters and how they interact. You need to use the performance space to show your understanding of the play. Below are two themes from the play that you can explore practically to develop your understanding of it and the characters, and how it can be performed. Childhood Throughout the play we see Mickey, Linda and Edward grow from young children into adults. These roles are usually cast with adult actors who have to play the different ages though their use of body language, facial expression and vocalisation. To help you develop ways of performing and interacting, try the exercises in Task 6. TASK 6 a Start by playing ‘It’ or ‘Tag’. When someone is tagged they have to freeze. Think about how you use your bodies, how much energy you expend, how you avoid getting tagged and what each other’s facial expressions are like when playing. b Play ‘Cops and Robbers’ by dividing your group into criminals who have got away with a crime and ‘cops’ who pursue and arrest them. Have one person be the ‘Sammy’ of the group who tells everyone else what their roles are and dictates when the game begins and ends. Discuss what it was like having Sammy as a leader. c Study photographs of children and note the following about them: facial expressions proximity to each other use of levels. Choose one photograph and create a still image based on it, do your best to capture the children and their proximity to each other. Then create a series of still images showing the relationships between the children. For example, who is the leader? Who wins? How do the others react? d Now read from the stage directions of ‘ Blood Brothers ’, ‘ They all laugh at MICKEY’ (page 41) to Linda’s ‘I hate them!’ How can you use your vocal skills to show the youthfulness of the characters and the comedy in the situation? Try the following: Speaking with a higher pitch. Over-enunciating unfamiliar words. Speaking energetically and with enthusiasm. Exaggerating the characters’ Liverpool accents. Using a quick pace and sudden pauses. Note in your scripts, using pencil, or in your notebooks any changes in your voice that are helpful for showing the characters’ ages and personalities. d Create four still images showing the characters’ movements during this extract. It is important to include their use of facial expressions and gestures. Take a photograph of the images or quickly sketch and label them. TIP For comedy, you might look for sudden changes in status; unexpected movements or gestures; a quick pace or use of exaggeration. Observe the children’s facial expressions and body language to inform your own still images. CHALLENGE Now write bullet notes in your notebook on the following task: You are performing the role of Linda in the extract on the previous page. Explain how you and the actors playing the other children might use the performance space and interact with each other to create comedy for your audience. 57 SECTION B  STUDY OF A SET PLAY