A guide for GCSE Drama students on how to prepare their 500 words of notes for Section B of the Component 3 written exam. The example features 'As You Like It' by Shakespeare, performed by the RSC in the 2018 season at Stratford upon Avon

2. PREPARING FOR SECTION BYOU COULD START WITH DEVELOPING A
TECHNICAL VOCABULARY BANK:
• PRIVATE
• Projection, Pace, Pitch, Pause, Range,
Intonation, Volume, Accent, Tone,
Expression, Emotion
• GEMS
Gesture, Eye Contact, Movement,
Space, Proximity, Diction,
Articulation, Gait
PERFORMANCE:
• Mood and Atmosphere
• Intensity, Colour, Angle (Lighting)
• Volume, Direction, Echo, Harmony, Disharmony (Sound)
• Material, texture, colour, fit, formal, informal, condition,
period (Costume)
• Levels, entrances and exits, areas of the stage, format of
staging (Staging)
• Materials, colour, size, location, naturalistic or abstract (Set)
Design:

3. PREPARING USEFUL EVALUATION NOTES
• Evaluation notes would normally be split between performance and design, with
250 words each.
• The following 100 words provide an example of notes for one key moment from
the production of As You Like It, performed by The RSC in June 2019 when you
went to see it in Y10.

4. KEY MOMENT 1 – THE OPENING OF THE PLAY
PERFORMANCE
• Anger of Orlando at being kept poor by his brother
Oliver. Oliver’s careless, impatient attitude towards
him. Adams concern for his masters fighting and
subsequent hurt and indignation at being called
‘Dog’ by Oliver.
• Rosalind and Celia’s carefree enjoyment and
friendship, Touchstone’s cynical commentary on
Court life.
DESIGN
• Isolation of spotlight (LX) on Orlando, Swing and
resonance of childhood memories of the brothers.
Contrasting costumes of Orlando (work clothes -
poor) and Oliver (suit – rich)
• Similar rich costumes with only slight differences for
Rosalind and Celia to show differences of status.
Champagne glasses, bare feet, grass circle, sounds of
a part off stage and the neat, ordered environment of
the Court. Grey walls enclosing the stage area.

5. KEY MOMENT 2 – THE WRESTLING MATCH
PERFORMANCE
• Physical actions and control by both
wrestlers in a choreographed sequence
including lifts and throws onto the
floor, reactions of the crowd and
Rosalind who falls in love with Orlando,
impressed by his manner but also his
looks, eye contact, standing in front of
Celia when she tries to speak to him.
DESIGN
• Jackets removed to shirt sleeves,
Jacques de Bois’ head-set and her high
heels on the grass, posts and rope set
up to mark out the space for the
match, other cast members waving
small ‘C’ flags in support of Charles the
wrestler, bag of gold given to Orlando
the winner

6. KEY MOMENT 3 - FROM THE COURT TO THE
FOREST
PERFORMANCE
• During the scene change a period of neutrality
as Duke Frederick changes character into Duke
Senior, directly addressing the audience ‘Fellow
Exiles all…’ with warm tones and welcoming
gestures.
• Ganymede, Aliana and Touchstone’s arrival
into the forest demonstrating their lack of
experience – comically exhausted, cleverly
descending from the balcony to the stage
floor.
DESIGN
• Rear wall flown out to reveal the full stage
depth. Everything revealed – the confines of
the court are removed and a sense of wonder,
of space and of freedom holds us. House lights
illuminate the audience, LEDS light the pillars
of the auditorium to become trees in the forest
and we are all there too. Cushions and rugs
create the relaxed atmosphere of the exiled
court. Fur lined jackets and bare feet lend a
sense of rustic freedom where rules are cast
aside in favour of Nature

7. KEY MOMENT 4 – ORLANDO’S LOVE LETTERS
PERFORMANCE
• Direct address by Orlando to the
audience, Expressions of heartfelt love
and carefree movement and gestures
including the heart, inclusion of
audience members with enthusiasm
and happiness to express his feelings
DESIGN
• Post it notes, post it note suit worn by
audience member showing the sheer
volume of the notes, descending
glitterball to create magical
atmosphere, the whole auditorium lit
with house lights at 50% so we are all
included and share each other’s
reactions, pillars lit to become trees
with green LEDs as if we are in the
forest.

8. KEY MOMENT 5 – THE WEDDING CELEBRATIONS
PERFORMANCE
• Ganymede promises to reveal Rosalind to
Duke Senior and Orlando, both are
confused, she is earnest. Relief and
happiness at the revelations. Love and
affection in the eyes of the couples who will
marry. Jubilation and joy in the dancing and
choral celebrations, joining in song. Honesty
and friendship in Rosalind’s final address to
the audience
DESIGN
• Centrepiece upstage of the balcony
representing the forest, transformation into
HYMEN as an enormous puppet
manipulated by the performers, bright
coloured lighting and music in major chords
indicate happiness and harmony in the lives
of the characters on stage