The Solo Theatre Piece
In a nutshell....
Weighting: SL 30% or HL 20%
The Solo Piece in your theatre class is a unique project where you'll create and perform your own mini theatre production. You'll get to experiment with different types of performances, like performing a monologue, creating a performance from your own writing, or even turning a newspaper article or a picture into a performance. You'll also learn about theatre theory and use these ideas to shape your performance. Feedback from your audience is a big part of this project, helping you understand how well you met your goals for the piece. At the end, you'll write a report reflecting on your performance and how well you think you achieved your goals.
Formal requirements...
For the Research Presentation project, you will need to produce the following:
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A report (2,500 words maximum) plus a list of all primary and secondary sources cited.
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A continuous unedited video recording of the whole solo theatre piece (lasting 4–7 minutes maximum).
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Solo Performance: You will be responsible for all decisions regarding the making, performing, and staging of a solo piece of theatre. This includes creating a solo performance of four to seven minutes based on various prompts such as an extract from an existing monologue, a piece of writing written by you, a newspaper article, an image, etc.
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Original Material: You will create original material for your performance. This could be based on a newspaper article, an image or photograph, a line of text, an idea/theme/issue, an object, an event, a location, a filmed interview, or a fairy tale. You will work with an aspect of theatre theory and use it to inform your performance. This involves researching a theatre theorist, identifying the theorist’s overarching intentions, and experimenting with an aspect of theory to understand how it can be staged. You will collect feedback from your audience and use it to develop your piece of theatre. This feedback will help you evaluate how well you met your theatre-maker intentions for the piece.
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Report: You will write a report evaluating the extent to which you have met your theatre-maker intentions.
Structure it like this.....
1. Researching theatre theory
With reference to their research, each student explains the chosen theory with a focus on the theorist’s overarching intentions and the selected aspect(s) of the theory. References to research should support the student’s explanation of both the theory and aspect(s) chosen, as examiners are interested in ensuring the student’s research is upheld and framed by pertinent evidence from the primary and secondary sources explored.
1000 Words
2. Developing the piece
Each student presents their defined and clearly articulated theatremaker intentions for the solo theatre piece and explains the process of developing the solo theatre piece, as informed by their chosen theory, through the use of performance and production elements.
750 Words
3. Evaluating the performance
Each student evaluates the presented solo theatre piece, explaining the extent to which their intentions were fulfilled and considering the feedback received from the audience.
750 Words
I would follow this process:
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Understand the Project: Read through the project requirements and make sure you understand what you need to do.
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Research Theatre Theorists: Look up different theatre theorists and learn about their theories.
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Choose a Theorist: Pick a theatre theorist whose theory you want to work with for your project.
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Brainstorm Performance Ideas: Think about what you want your solo performance to be about. Consider different prompts like a monologue, a piece of writing, a newspaper article, or an image.
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Create Your Performance: Develop your ideas into a performance. This could be based on a variety of things like a newspaper article, an image, a line of text, an idea or theme, an object, an event, a location, a filmed interview, or a fairy tale.
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Rehearse Your Performance: Rehearse your performance until you feel comfortable with it.
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Get Feedback: Perform your piece for a small audience and ask for their feedback.
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Refine Your Performance: Use the feedback you received to make improvements to your performance.
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Prepare Your Report: Start writing your report. Reflect on your goals for the performance and evaluate how well you think you met them.
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Finalize Your Performance: Make any final adjustments to your performance and make sure it's ready for the final presentation.
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Present Your Performance: Perform your final piece.
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Finalize and Submit Your Report: After your performance, finish your report and submit it.
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Remember to check in with Mr. W throughout this process to make sure you're on the right track.
Rubric........(What/How I'm grading you)
A: Researching theatre theory
7-8 Band
Ai. With specific references to their research, the student explains the chosen theatre theory with a focus on the theorist’s overarching intentions.
Aii. With specific references to their research, the student explains the chosen aspect(s) of the theatre theory.
Possible Characteristics....
Excellent
Discerning
Insightful
Thorough
B: Reflecting on the performed solo theatre piece
7-8 Band
Bi: With reference to their theatre-maker intentions, the student explains the process of developing the solo theatre piece, as informed by their chosen theory.
Bii: The student evaluates the effectiveness of the presented solo theatre piece, explaining the extent to which their theatre-maker intentions were achieved. References to audience feedback effectively support the student’s evaluation.
Possible Characteristics....
Excellent
Discerning
Insightful
Thorough
C: Theatre theory in performance
7-8 Band
Ci: The application of the selected aspect(s) of theatre theory in the solo theatre piece is effective.
Cii:The student’s use of performance and/or production elements in the solo theatre piece to fulfill their intentions is effective.
Possible Characteristics....
Excellent
Discerning
Insightful
Thorough