Skills Audit and Casting notes

What skills have you developed so far on the BTEC?

• Rehearsal skills – understanding and analysing text – researching historical, political background to the text – themes – given circumstances.
• Evaluation – knowing what is needed for a good evaluation –learning how to be critical of myself and others – using quotes – listening to actors, voice coaches – knowing next steps to improve.
• Objectives – tactics – allowing breath to lead not voice –gives purpose – live in the scene – helps character – shows emotion.
• Using body – body and voice as one – allowing self to be ugly and beautiful – experience pain and pleasure – creative instincts take over – working with breath, posture – allow things to happen.
• Textual analysis – character building – detailed fact and opinion.
• Ensemble – understanding energy on stage – always switched on – good transitions.
• Devising a piece in response to a stimulus – sight specific.
• Children’s Theatre – responding to a specific audience.
• Voice – breath – articulation – energy – voice and body
• Multimedia – computers – blog – video
• Theatrical configuration – set, 3 sided stage, special awareness, props.
• Mask – clocking, counter- work (2 emotions)
• Improvisation
• Different society’s and cultures – Bangladesh – skinhead
• Don’t repeat – feel a line – have reason – breath, reaction – you are NOT the most important person
• Finding your casting range.
• Directing – blackout – each other’s monologues.
• EVERY SCENE IS A CHASE SCENE – keep space, allow scene to move on stage (the witness)

Skills gained elsewhere?

• Physical skills – Dance class – Ballet (technique) , tap, modern, contemporary – stretch and conditioning (balance and flexibility)
• Voice – Singing classes – work on breath control.
• Read – plays and theatre books
• Went to see curious incident- extra course – got to go on the stage – meet the actors – find out their devising process.
• History – Note taking in lessons and Research.
• English – Poetry – analysing text deeper meaning.
• Shakespeare- read Romeo and Juliet, a midsummer’s night dream, Macbeth.

Current Skills and Areas to improve…

Voice 7/10 – good at Articulation and projection – need to improve on Accents – I want to learn accents by watching YouTube videos and practising the pronunciation of words. I also wanted to become more confident and singing so I have taken up singing classes to work on my breath control.

Furthermore I would like to improve connecting my Body and voice as one because sometimes my movements don't connect with the way my body is moving so to do this I need to allow my instincts to take over and I can also practice using the slimy frog exercise.

Movement and Physical skills 7/10 – I think I am quite good in general at movement and dance however I would like to improve my flexibility which is why I have taken up stretch and conditioning classes. I also wanted to improve my balance and technique therefore I have taken up ballet classes.

Evaluation 8/10 – I believe I have improved greatly in evaluating so I need to carry on using quotes and also make sure I am writing in the correct and most appropriate style of writing. To improve I need to go see more plays so that I can have the chance to evaluate them and I need to remember to justify my views and opinions.

Rehearsal skills 7/10- I think I am good at turning up when I am needed and I am OK at analysing text however I still do find it difficult to find the correct objectives. I need to become more confident and creative when thinking up objectives for my peace and I also need to use the technique we have learnt when using objectives. This is so that my instincts will take over when I am performing and my performance will no longer look fake because it will be all natural instincts so therefore it will be truthful and I wont be pretending. To be able to do this I need to know the given circumstances and what the character is feeling to allow this to occur.

Styles of acting 6/10 – I am not great at understanding Shakespeare so I would like to become more familiar with the texts and plays however I do think I am good at emotional and comedic work. Hopefully my Shakespeare will be improved this term because I am becoming more familiar with objectives which should help my performance.

Confidence in text and Characterisation 7/10 – I feel as though I am good at analysing text and researching to develop my character however I do feel I could go into a little more detail in my research. I can do this by using the approaching your script guide, reading the play and if I can by finding a film of the play.

Ensemble 6/10  - I think the blackout project really helped us work as an ensemble because we had to have quick and clean transitions and we had to keep our energy up. To improve this I need to always be focused and have a purpose on stage so that the transitions don't just drop they should fade into the next scene. To keep at the same energy I need to become more aware of the other actors energy level on stage and always be focused and ready to go.


Casting notes:

Casting - How you look – adaptable for what you are going for – dye hair – grow beard – make up – body language – way to dress – ability to play a character.

Cast ability – Talent – accents – articulation – spectrum – vocal ability – varied voice – high status, low status characters – physicality, body – posture – how you hold yourself.



My Character Range

• Dancer
• Victim
• Posh Character
• 15 -19
• Geek
• Vulnerable
• Bratty Child
• Maid – below the stairs
• Patient – scared – creepy
• Student
• High and low status

However I believe I cannot play:

A tough character – I can improve this by my body language, posture and voice placement.

Mime artist – work on flexibility and physical theatre.

Aggressive character – Fighter not just high status.