Section B GCSE Drama: Live Theatre Evaluation

1. Written Exam
18th May PM
Section A – Bringing Texts to Life – The Crucible
Section B- Evaluation of Live Theatre

2. Starter terminology
Engage Analyse Evaluate Design
Closing moments Physical skills Key moment Elements
Staging Audience response Concept/Interpretation Vocabulary bank
Personal view Structure Colour Subheadings

3. Introduction
• In section B of your exam you will
have to answer questions about the
live performance you have seen.
• You will need to:
• Build up a good bank of relevant
drama vocabulary and terminology
that you can draw on in the exam
• Understand the difference between
answering an ‘analyse’ question and
an ‘evaluate’ question
• Research the play you have seen; take
careful notes of the style of
performance or design approach used
• Prepare detailed and relevant notes
to take into the final exam.
Example of note preparation
• 1. Drama vocabulary and terminology
for The Visit of the Old Lady: end-on
staging, simplistic design, costume
contrasts
• 2. Performance elements and skills for
analysis: movement, gesture, facial
expression, physicality
• 3. Evaluation of these skills: hesitant,
frightened movement, menacing
crowd
• 4. Details of design style: Sound to
represent place – cars and trains,
atmospheric sound played to heighten
tension at key moments

4. Task – Technical Vocabulary bank
• Prepare a bank of words to use in the exam which are relevant, and
will trigger your memory. This will help you understand where your
knowledge is good and where the gaps are in your learning.
• Use subheadings of ‘Performance’ and ‘Design’
• Use different colours when making your notes so that you see the
different elements clearly.

5. Test questions
• Seating alphabetically at the desks provided
• Ensure you have a piece of paper and a pen/pencil and a ruler
• The lesson is in two parts, roughly 30 mins each.
• 1- Diagram of the set design with labels (which can form part of your notes)
• 2 – Test questions
• Firstly, as well as a vocabulary and terminology bank, it will be useful for you to
have diagrams of the set with your own labels on. Some have your have already
done this and should have your notes at home, so this is for revision and
preparation today.
• Spend the next part of the lesson either drawing a diagram or continuing with
your comment banks.

7. Analyse/Evaluate
Analyse 6 marks
• Analyse how stage space was used
to engage the audience during the
opening moments of the
performance
• The key word is engage. You need
to analyse how the performers
used stage space to catch the
attention of the audience
Evaluate 9 marks
• Evaluate how lighting was used at
different moments of the
performance to create impact for
the audience.
• This example is about lighting. No
section is identified, so you can
write about the one you feel is
most relevant. You need to analyse
the way the lighting was used and
evaluate the impact of the lighting
choices on the audience.