AQA GCSE Drama sample

2 TASK 17 All of the responses above have different strengths. Read through them and, with a partner, discuss which design in your opinion is best at establishing the location, period and mood of the opening. Draw a sketch showing your own ideas about how the play’s opening set would look. TASK 18 You are now going to create a design for the end of Act 1 set using the stage configuration of your choice. At this point, the characters have moved to the country. How can the set design represent this change? Think about: entrances/exits and areas for key moments how to create atmosphere use of backdrops, projections or set furniture scale. TASK 19 Now, writing as a set designer and using the stage configuration of your choice, choose any setting from either Act 1 or Act 2 and answer the following: You are a designer working on one aspect of design for this extract. Describe how you would use your design skills to create effects that support the action of this extract, and explain why your ideas are appropriate both for this extract and the play as a whole . I want to highlight the theme of social class, so my initial set will show the exterior of the Lyons’ home stage left and the Johnstones’ home stage right. 4 Both will use painted canvas sets. The colours for the Lyons’ house will be creams and blues, while the Johnstones’ house will be painted dark red brick. 5 There will be white columns either side of the front door of the Lyons’ home and an overflowing trash bin in front of the Johnstones’, in order to show the dif�erence in their social class. 6 I think the Liverpool street is an important aspect of the set, so the first image the audience will see will be painted flats that create a brick wall with graf�iti written on it and posters advertising rock groups from the 1970s. 7 The stage will be made of a series of ramps that lead up to a central circular acting area. The Nar�ator will make his first appearance in this highest, most prominent area, appearing in the light of a streetlamp, which makes him look mysterious and important. 8 The wall will be mounted on trucks that part to reveal the two contrasting homes. 9 B C Explains intentions of design Provides details to establish characters Discusses use of levels Explains how set can be changed to help action of play Explains how homes will contrast Establishes 1970s setting 69 SECTION B STUDY OF A SET PLAY