(READING TASK)
HOW TO SURVIVE THE DEViSING UNIT
Devising a brand new piece of drama in a group can be great fun and very exciting,
particularly when you like your idea and everyone is working hard. But… It can also
be very stressful, particularly if you are not getting on well as a group or you don’t have
faith in the quality of your ideas. Below are a few things to keep in mind when devising
in your group.
The devising process should contain the following elements, if you find yourself stuck
with what to do, or can’t understand why your idea feels a bit rubbish, go back to this
list, tick off the ones you have done. If you have missed some of these elements out,
perhaps trying them will improve your ideas
Mind mapping
Discussion
Debate
Research
Improvisation
Exploring ideas
Scripting
Rehearsal
Feedback
Performance
Evaluation
Being effective at devising involves you using a number of skills –
Imagination, compromise, independence, collaboration, confidence,
discussion, diplomacy, focus, time management
Some people are better at thinking of initial ideas, some are better at shaping the
ideas into a plot, some people are better at writing scripts, some are better at finding
music and making powerpoints or choreography. Use the skills in the group, don’t
blame someone for not contributing with a particular task, it maybe that they would
be better taking responsibility for a different aspect.
Even though it is a group effort, you need to use your independent working skills. So,
after you have chosen (or been given) your stimulus, you can still look at and explore
other stimuli that link in or inspire you to investigate. There are a wide range
of stimuli from which a devised work can be created. These include:
pictures
poems
music
articles
artefacts
paintings
So even if your chosen stimulus is a photo for example, it is ok to look at pictures,
listen to music or watch a film that covers similar themes or plot to help give you
ideas for your own piece. Remember inspiration can come from anywhere!
If you have an ideas but keep getting stuck and can’t think of a story or characters
and can’t work out how to develop the idea, maybe, just maybe the idea isn’t very
good. It is ok to go back to the drawing board.
So, you have your stimulus and a few initial ideas…… where do we go from here?
KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELVES EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS.
Who are the target audience?
What should be said to them?
What should be shown to them?
How should they feel by the end of the drama?
What will they learn from watching the drama?
RESEARCH
Once you have decided on the topic or subject matter you want to explore, you need
to do some research.
!!! Research is the single most important way to find
out key information about your topic !!!
How to research
Get images and make a mood board or montage.
Find facts, data, dates, statistics.
Watch interviews with people who might be connected to your topic
Watch documentaries about your topic
Find different opinions on the same subject to get a balanced argument
Talk to people in your family or friendship group who may know more about
it that you or have experience of your chosen topic.
Info like this can be found on;
Youtube
Wikipedia
Google searches
Iplayer
Netflix
Newspaper websites
Books in the library
DVDs
Podcasts
Talking to people you know
!!! REMEMBER – Stories very rarely come from you head and
almost always come from a story that already exists, whether
that is a true story or a film/book etc. !!!
PRACTICAL TASKS TO TRY
When you have thoroughly researched your chosen topic, you should have the basis
of a story. Next you need to decide how best to tell that story. From the very start of
the process, ideas should be discussed but also tried out practically.
For example, you could…
create six tableaux immediately - this could lead to other ideas
write spontaneously for two minutes in response to the starting point
share ideas
improvise a two-minute scene without thinking or planning - this could generate
new ideas
set each other tasks
Continue to research the topic - get more images, facts, music, interviews, etc
explore real-life events and use spoken or written stories from people - this may
lift practical work to a higher standard.
TEAMWORK
It is important to work together as a team and commit clearly to that group. Simple
things make a lot of difference when working in a group. There are a few simple things
you can do to avoid arguments and feel a valued member of your group.
turn up on time
be positive
say yes to trying out ideas before dismissing them
respect other opinions without bullying others into doing it ‘your way’
take it in turns to lead a warm-up or direct/write a section of the piece
Do not be lazy and expect someone else to do the work and give you your lines.
!!! REMEMBER At the very beginning of the devising process, things
will not be perfect. Don’t give up. This is normal !!!
Disagreements are very much part of the devising process and often help to improve
the quality of ideas being discussed. Remember the bigger picture and be positive,
knowing that details can be fine-tuned later on. Be open minded. Try things out rather
than talking about them. Groups that are always evolving and experimenting with their
ideas can experience more success with their work.
It is worth remembering that even theatre professionals who have worked together for
years still have disagreements, it’s a part of the process and disagreements are fine.
The trick is working out how to solve these disagreements through compromise and
trial and error.
Be pro-active! Make suggestions. Don’t leave it all to one person to do. At the end of
each lesson reflect on what ideas you personally have contributed. Too many and you
may have been a bit bossy. Not enough and you may have been a bit lazy.
If you all agree to explore ideas and experiment with them, you will soon work out
which ideas work best and if you still can’t agree, get an impartial person to listen
to/watch your work and give their feedback.
And finally, don’t let your ideas run away with you. Keep an eye on the aim of your
piece. Keep asking yourself those important questions (below).
Who are the target audience?
What should be said to them?
What should be shown to them?
How should they feel by the end of the drama?
What will they learn from watching the drama?
How to shape your ideas
IDEAS
I
BASIC PLOT
I
LIST OF CHARACTERS
I
STRUCTURE THE PLOT INTO SECTIONS
I
GIVE EACH CHARACTER A STRONG BACK STORY
I
BUILD THE TENSION BETWEEN THE MAIN CHARACTERS
I
BUILD THE PLOT TO A DRAMATIC / ACTION PACKED CLIMAX
I
LEAVE THE AUDIENCE WITH A MESSAGE OR MORAL TO THINK ABOUT
