WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Drama: Revision Guide

Warm-up exercises Using effective warm-up exercises will help your voice, body and mind make the most of every rehearsal and performance. Neutral position is standing without holding any unnecessary tension in your body, so your body doesn’t suggest any particular emotion. Finding neutral position helps you to build your character effectively, as your body language will be made up from character choices and not your own physical habits. Rotate your hands. Work the rotation through your wrists, then arms and finally shoulders, so you are ‘windmilling’ your arms in one direction. Then ‘windmill’ your arms in the opposite direction. Starting with your feet, consciously relax every muscle in your lower body that you don’t need to keep you upright, then work up through your body to the top of your head and down each arm. Imagine a blob of paint on the end of your nose. Slowly paint a straight line slowly across your field of vision, from one side to the other, using only your head and neck. Roll your shoulders in a circle. Ensure that each circle goes as far back, up, forwards and down as you can. Then reverse the circle. 2 4 5 1 3 Find ‘neutral position’ Arms Stand with your feet hip-distance apart Head and neck Shoulders PHYSICAL WARM-UP Keep your eyeline on something straight ahead throughout the warm-up. TIP Be clear in your mind what colour the paint on the end of your nose is. The clearer you see it, the better you will do the movement. TIP Throughout your warm-up, try to use only the muscles you are focusing on at that time. For example, keep your head and neck relaxed and still while stretching your arms. TIP DOWNLOADABLE 12 part 1 DEVISING THEATRE