How to tackle the 6 mark question on performance skills. This uses As You Like It by William Shakespeare as the example play.

1. Evaluation of Live Theatre
Focus on the questions

2. To do list
• Transfer your final coursework draft to the shared folder – otherwise
you will fail the component.
• When I have checked that – some of you have already done this, you
can complete your evaluation of live theatre workbooks.
• We will be in either here or S40 on Friday as well to complete this
task.

3. Section B Questions - examples
Section A – The Crucible
Section B Live Performance Evaluation
• (a) Analyse how physical skills
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance
• (a) Analyse how movement skills
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance
• (a) Analyse how space and levels
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance
• (a) Analyse how vocal skills were
used to engage the audience at
one key moment in the
performance

4. Section B Questions
Section A – The Crucible, Section B Live Performance Evaluation
2 questions – here is the first which is worth 6 marks
• (a) Analyse how physical skills
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance (6)
• (a) Analyse how movement skills
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance (6)
• (a) Analyse how space and levels
were used to engage the
audience at one key moment in
the performance (6)
• (a) Analyse how vocal skills were
used to engage the audience at
one key moment in the
performance (6)

5. Section B Questions
Section A – The Crucible, Section B Live Performance Evaluation
2 questions – here is the first which is worth 6 marks
• (a) Analyse how physical skills were
used to engage the audience at
one key moment in the
performance (6)
• Physical = the body, so could
include:
• Eye contact
• Movement
• Posture
• Proximity - all Non Verbal
Communication skills.
6 marks – so three examples with a
reason for each
Opportunity to write about different
characters in the key moment.
Expectation to write about various
skills displayed.

6. Approaching the 6 mark question
Choose your key moment
• From the performance that you
have seen, choose a moment
that you know well enough to
write about in detail.
• The moment can be from
anywhere in the play.
• It needs be a significant moment
of the plot
A basic plan – moment 1
• During the wrestling match
1. Orlando’s physical skills in the
fight
2. Rosalind’s reactions
3. Charles’ reactions when he is
beaten and exhausted
All engaging you by making it seem
believable or realistic for example.

7. Approaching the 6 mark question
Choose your key moment
• From the performance that you
have seen, choose a moment
that you know well enough to
write about in detail.
• The moment can be from
anywhere in the play.
• It needs be a significant moment
of the plot
A basic plan - moment 2
As Rosalind, Celia and Touchstone enter
the forest of Arden
1. Rosalind wearily paces onto the
stage as if after a long walk
2. Celia exhausted slumping down in
the cart
3. Touchstone out of his element,
frustrated, struggling with the
undergrowth, falling over etc.
All engaging you by helping you
understand their situation of being
removed from the court, the forest
being enormous and providing a source
of comedy.

8. Section B
A worked example
• During the wrestling match where
Orlando seeks to win money by
fighting Charles, David Ajao as
Orlando used his physical skills by
straining against Graeme Brookes
holding him in a headlock, applying
tension to his forearm and legs
particularly. This gave the impression
of strength needed to hold Charles
back. At one point Charles’ head hit
the rear wall of the stage and
Graeme Brookes used his hand to
make a loud sound as if his head was
striking the wall with force, which
made me wince as if he had really
hurt himself. He staggered away from
this blow which further convinced me
of the injury.
• During the fight Rosalind’s reactions
were noticeable. She appeared
excited by the bout, and her facial
expressions and hopping from foot to
foot conveyed a sense of
nervousness and care for Orlando, as
she appeared to have already fallen a
little in love with him from their
earlier conversation before the fight.
• When Orlando was being beaten by
Charles she covered her eyes and
held her other hand in a gesture as if
to signify she wanted the fight to
stop. Celia meanwhile comforted her
with an arm on her shoulder, also
helping me to understand her
concern for the fighters.

9. Section B
A worked example
• During the wrestling match where
Orlando seeks to win money by
fighting Charles, David Ajao as
Orlando used his physical skills by
straining against Graeme Brookes
holding him in a headlock, applying
tension to his forearm and legs
particularly. This gave the impression
of strength needed to hold Charles
back. At one point Charles’ head hit
the rear wall of the stage and Graeme
Brookes used his hand to make a loud
sound as if his head was striking the
wall with force, which made me wince
as if he had really hurt himself. He
staggered away from this blow which
further convinced me of the injury.
• During the fight Rosalind’s reactions
were noticeable. She appeared
excited by the bout, and her facial
expressions and hopping from foot to
foot conveyed a sense of nervousness
and care for Orlando, as she appeared
to have already fallen a little in love
with him from their earlier
conversation before the fight.
• When Orlando was being beaten by
Charles she covered her eyes and held
her other hand in a gesture as if to
signify she wanted the fight to stop.
Celia meanwhile comforted her with
an arm on her shoulder, also looking
worried and concerned for the
fighters.
Note how I have used the actors names
in the response