Assignment Brief

The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology Theatre Department   Assignment brief
Unit number and title	Unit 1: Performance Workshop
Qualification	BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in Performing Arts (Acting)
Start date	Tuesday 4th November 2014
Deadline	Tuesday 16th December 2014
Assessor	SST/SGL/WRE
Assignment title	Theatre for Change (Assignment 1 of 2)
The purpose of this assignment is to: Apply workshop processes to interpret stimulus material, exploring, researching, shaping and developing material for performance and evaluating its potential for an audience.
Scenario: You will take part in workshops exploring current news stories and ideas to create a piece of political theatre. You will use the ideas and approach of Bertolt Brecht to suggest exercises and rehearsal techniques for both rehearsal and performance.  You will work as part of a group to create a piece of work for performance and take part in a workshop performance of the piece. The piece will be inspired by Theatre Uncut 2014 which is a collection of Political plays prompted by the question: "Knowledge is power, power is change" The plays chosen will be confirmed nearer the time. The plays are being performed at Soho Theatre towards the end of 2014. You will also create a separate performance piece in small groups. These pieces will take the form of a political protest that will be performed in a space of your choice.
Task 1 Workshop exploration You will explore ideas from the chosen Theatre Uncut play and use it as source material, to conduct research, undertake practical exercises and lead and take part in discussions about performance possibilities. You will develop and shape imaginatively the most creative ideas for a political theatre piece. You will also work on the text of your Theatre Uncut play and include this in your final performance piece. You will be assessed through teacher observation. Criteria assessed P1, M1, D1 & P2, M2, D2 Deadline: 2nd December 2014
Task 2 Perform Give a confident, controlled and assured performance that shows a sense of flair as well as engagement with the performance material and a clear responsive relationship with the audience. You will be assessed through teacher observation and a video/DVD recording will be made of the performance. Criteria assessed P3, M3, D3 Deadline: 9th December 2014 6.30pm Task 3  Perform Political Protests In groups of between 3 and 5 you will choose a subject to create a staged political protest from. You will develop and explore the performance opportunities of this subject and create a piece of performance work of no longer than ten minutes. You can choose a setting within the grounds of the BRIT School to perform your piece You be assessed through teacher observation Criteria assessed P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3 Deadline: Tuesday 25th November 2014
Task 4 Actor’s Blog You will keep an actor’s log in the form of an online blog. It will need to contain; ·       A clear record of the research you have undertaken, ·       Records and evaluations of  the practical exercises you have done to develop the piece ·       Annotated news stories and commentaries on YouTube clips ·       Sketches and diagrams ·       Detailed evaluations of the final piece and its artistic achievements ·       Detailed evaluation of the level of professional execution ·       Evaluation of the overall strengths and weaknesses ·       A discussion about the future potential of the piece as a theatre product Criteria assessed P4, M4, D4 Deadline: Emailed in by 4.30pm on Tuesday 23rd December ‘14
Sources of information The News Theatre Uncut website www.theatreuncut.com Bertolt Brecht by Meg Mumford, Routledge 2008

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Assessor	SARAH GOODALL
Signature	SGL	Date	16/10/14
Internal verifier
Signature		Date

Grading Criteria:

P1 show a response to source material through research and practical workshops, recognising obvious possibilities as performance material

M1 show considered responses to source material, exploring its more creative possibilities as performance material with insight and attention to detail

D1 show a range of detailed responses to source material, in which the possibilities as performance material are explored in a perceptive and comprehensive manner

P2 develop and shape workable ideas

M2 develop and shape the most workable ideas

D2 develop and shape the most creative ideas

P3 perform with a level of skill appropriate to the chosen medium showing engagement with the material and communicating ideas to an audience

M3 perform with a level of skill that shows a degree of control in the handling of the chosen medium, degree of engagement with the material, communicating ideas to an audience in a focused manner

D3 perform with a sense of flair, confidence and assured control of the chosen medium, showing consistent focus and engagement with the material and clear and responsive communication to an audience

P4 evaluate the potential of the work in artistic, professional and vocational terms with recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the work.

M4 evaluate the potential of the work in artistic, professional and vocational terms, with considered judgements about what worked well and/or less well.

D4 evaluate the potential of the work in artistic, professional and vocational terms with strengths and weaknesses clearly identified and judgements fully justified and thoughtfully expressed.