AQA GCSE Drama sample

Sound design ‘ Blood Brothers ’ offers many opportunities for sound design, not only because it is a musical, but also because there are moments when tension or a character’s psychological state might be emphasised through the use of sound. Sound design can help to: aid a transition from one scene to another highlight a particular moment or character enhance the atmosphere establish location TASK 22 Focus on Act 2 from ‘MRS LYONS enters and goes to MICKEY’ to the Narrator’s ‘There’s a mad man / there’s a mad man.’ a In a group, using materials you can find and your own voices, create a soundscape to accompany this scene. Consider: Volume: when will the sound get louder and when will it be softer? Type of sound: will it be gentle and tuneful or harsh and discordant? Character and action: will there be different sounds/instruments to accompany certain characters or actions? b Discuss how you could use either live or recorded sound effects/ music to accomplish the effects that you want. c Make notes, either in pencil in your script or in your notebook, to explain your discoveries. When creating your sound design you should annotate your script with your ideas, including: Live or recorded? Produced onstage or offstage? Volume/amplification. Here is an example: KEY TERM: Soundscape: drama technique where performers use their voices (and sometimes other items) to create sounds to enhance the mood or theme of a piece of drama. 1 Sam�y leaps from the ‘bus’ 2 and is pursued by two policemen. 3 The ‘bus’ pulls away 4 leaving Mickey and Linda alone on the pavement. 5 Recorded sound of bus Live sound of police whistles from onstage Recorded sound of screeching stop. Comically loud Recorded sound of bus pulling away. Volume decreases as it goes into the distance Sudden silence TASK 23 At the end of Act 1, the Johnstones move from the city to the country. Focusing on the script from Mickey’s ‘It’s like the country, isn’t it, Mam?’ to the end of the act, annotate your script, in pencil, showing how you would use sound design to show the change in location and mood. 72 COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA