The live theatre question
- In Section C of the Understanding drama paper, you analyse and evaluate a live theatre production you have seen.
- Questions may focus on a performer's skills or on a design element, such as lighting or set.
Analyse and evaluate
- Describe: give precise details of what happened on stage at specific moments.
- Analyse: explain how the skills or design created meaning or effect.
- Evaluate: judge how successful it was and why, with your own justified opinion.
Preparing
- Make detailed notes straight after seeing the show, while it's fresh.
- Note key moments, specific vocal and physical skills, and details of set, costume, lighting and sound.
- Practise writing answers with the "what, how, why" structure: what they did, how they did it, and why it worked (or didn't).
Key terms
- Analyse
- Explain how and why something creates meaning or effect.
- Evaluate
- Judge how successful something was, with reasons.
- Live theatre
- A performance seen in person.
- Production
- A particular staging of a play.
- Effect
- The impact on the audience.
Practise Analysing and evaluating live theatre: 10 questions