GCSE Drama set text notes

Lionboy
A Novel by Zizou Corder
Stage Adaptation by Marcelo Dos Santos

You will need to concentrate on the following: • The walls behind the audience can also be
used.
1. The historical period and the theatrical
conventions of the period. 2. Although it is usually the director who makes
the decisions regarding staging, it is necessary
2. The style of the play. to work with the designers.
3. Characters – interpretation, motivation, vocal
• Can you name each designer?
aspects, movement and interaction, their use of
the acting space, their use of props and set, their • What is the role of each designer?
costume, make-up and hair and the relationship
between the actors and the audience. • Remember that the designers add to the
atmosphere of the performance and enrich
4. Staging – the effect of the production on the audience’s experience.
different stages e.g. Thrust, Proscenium, Theatre
in the Round and Traverse. (More information and terminology regarding
designers can be found in the appendix.)
5. Design – the set and props, costumes, make-up
and hair, lighting and sound. 3. You must remember that vocal skills, movement
and interaction have to be discussed when
discussing a performance. Do you remember
CLASS DISCUSSION TASKS all the different elements which must be referred
to when discussing each one?
Before you start to study the drama, you need to
remember some things that will help you with each 4. You must understand the meaning of the term
task. style. Can you explain what is the meaning
of naturalistic style, symbolic style and
1. Staging minimalistic style?
There are four main types of stage layouts:
Proscenium, Thrust, Traverse and Theatre in the
Round.

• Make a sketch of each one.

• Add where the audience will be placed.
• Propose an idea of the kind of set that can be
used on each stage.
• Remember that the floor, the stage and the
roof are important.

1
 GCSE Drama set text notes

1: The background of the play nine actors worked collaboratively to present the
story to the audience in a most exciting and engaging
The play Lionboy is an adaptation of the novel by way.
Zizou Corder. The novel was written in 2003 and
The design work was excellent, with striking sound
by now, the stage adaptation has been adapted to
work, a live band and a great many special effects
a number of different languages. It’s a part of a
which created effective locations and images. The
trilogy: Lionboy, Lionboy: The Chase and Lionboy:
actors conveyed the lions through physical work.
The Truth. The novel was adapted for the stage by
In this particular performance, acrobatic work and
Marcelo Dos Santos who worked very closely with a
circus skills were most important, as well as the
professional theatre company, Complicité.
sound of percussion to create an atmosphere. This
The play follows the story of Charlie Ashanti, a was the company’s first production directly aimed
child living in the future where mobile phones towards children.
are powered by the sun. There are no cars and
In his notes at the beginning of the play, the adapter,
companies are more important than countries.
Marcelo Dos Santos, states:
Although Charlie is superficially an ordinary child,
he can talk to cats and lions. When his parents are “Rather than showing every moment of Zizou
kidnapped by a huge pharmaceutical company, he Corder’s novels acted out, or building a hot-air
begins a journey to save them with the aid of a pride balloon or using puppets, I worked with the company
of circus lions. to develop a language of story-telling that relied
heavily on our audience’s imaginations and the
The drama was first performed by Complicité yn
dexterity and charisma of the performer.”
2013 and it later went on tour around Britain, New
York, Hong Kong and Seoul. Here are some facts about the production.
Here are some press comments: 1. Only a few props and stage equipment were
used, but they had a specific and symbolic
“Jon Bausor’s design is dominated by a tilted
purpose e.g. ropes along the stage to symbolise
disc that can turn swiftly into a blood-red African
the waves of the seas and metal ladders to
skyscape or the undulating floor of the Corporacy
represent locations.
HQ. Circe, the floating circus-ship Charlie joins on
his travels, is evoked through rocking stools, calliope 2. The actors used their bodies to create objects
music and kaleidoscopic costumes. Meanwhile, e.g. the ship carrying Charlie and the animals
the lions, whom Charlie eventually liberates, are over the sea.
suggested by a mix of the actor’s body movements,
Tom Gibbons’s score and our own imaginations.” 3. The costumes were colourful and also symbolic.
The actors changed costume in front of the
It’s a very lively, exciting and colourful play, audience without leaving the stage, in order to
suitable for audiences of all ages. The themes are maintain the show’s lively tempo and rhythm.
contemporary and appropriate, whilst also including
a mix of emotions. 4. The actors doubled up on characters with some
portraying three and more characters.

2: The original performance 5. The lions were created through sound effects,
drums and percussion especially. No live lions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf_qeAC2g6s are seen at all, only their sound and Charlie’s
description of them. This was a deliberate
The drama was first performed on 29 May 2013 at decision in order to spark the audience’s
the Old Vic. The stage type was end on. imagination.

The play was first performed by the company As Marcelo Dos Santos notes: “All we might ask is
Complicité which specialises in a unique that you trust in the power of imagination and stay
performance technique. In the original performance, as nimble and light as a cat”
2
 GCSE Drama set text notes

The Company – Complicité

TASKS
You’ll need to understand the intention of this
1. Look at the cover of the play and discuss with a
particular theatre company. Complicité is a group
partner what is being suggested.
of people from the north of London focusing on
In your answer, refer to the following:
creating theatre which is a combination of physical
work, acrobatic skills, dance and imaginative design. • the image
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf_qeAC2g6s • the colours

Their productions use the visual techniques of • the title.

lighting, sound and screen, and colourful costumes
to create a magical and engaging experience for the 2. Do some research into the background of Zizou
audience. Corder and the other novels associated with the
play.
The lighting and sound designer would have a huge
3. Do you feel that the play’s cover appeals more
role in this production of Lionboy. The wide range of
to children than adults?
colours, lamps, on-screen images and effects created
the atmosphere throughout the show.
With regards to sound, the animal noises needed 3:
to be created as well as setting up a background for
Structure
the locations. The company focused on creating This play has a unique structure. The play begins
sophisticated physical work when interpreting the with the prologue, where the actors introduce
story to encourage the audience to imagine through themselves to the audience, using their first names.
the physical images that they were seeing a ship, the (It is suggested that the actors’ real names should be
woods and a city. Only a few props and set elements used in each production.)
were used in the original production, in order to
focus completely on the performers. The characters, especially Charlie, break the fourth
wall consistently and tell the story as they go on.
The pace of the drama is fast, and the audience
goes on a journey with Charlie to look for his
parents. Sometimes flashbacks are used to explain
elements of the plot e.g. in Scene 4, when Aneba and
Magdalen explain how Charlie came to be able to
talk to the cats.

Although the play is in two parts, the scenes flow

and run smoothly into one another – there are
13 scenes in Part 1 and 7 in Part 2. The sense of
adventure is evident in the show, as we are taken
by ship to Paris and by train to Venice. The images
are introduced in the story by the characters, and
therefore this gives the director the freedom to
choose whatever visual technique they want for the
staging.

It’s an exciting play with ample opportunity to stage

it in a creative and imaginative way.

3
 GCSE Drama set text notes

TASKS Aneba Ashanti – Charlie’s father, an African

scientist.
1. Draw a picture of the stage you would use to
stage Part 1. Remember to note the position of Magdalen Stark – Charlie’s mother, a British
the audience, and state general information on scientist.
the set.
The couple are on the brink of discovering
2. Look at Part 1, Scene 1 and describe how you medication to cure asthma. This is the reason they
would stage the extract, focusing on the visual are kidnapped.
elements. In your answer, refer to the following:
Rafi Sadler – Rafi is a criminal who tries to abduct
• choice of stage Charlie at the beginning of the play. He works for
the company and for the CEO. Charlie describes
• the style of the production him as someone who was full of confidence in
• set and props. school; cool and trendy. By now, he’s working for
a huge pharmaceutical company and is willing to
3. Explain how you would communicate Charlie’s do anything to make an impression on them, even
role to the audience in this extract. In your breaking the law. He’s a cold, cruel and uncourteous
answer, refer to the following: character. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself
and he doesn’t respect anyone either e.g. in Part 1,
• character motivation Scene 3, this is how he talks to another adult, Mr
Ubsworth:
• character’s voice
• character’s movement “You seen a boy around here?... Oi, deafo, I’m
talking to you.”
• his positioning on stage
Rafi is seen spitting on the floor and kicking his dog.
• his relationship with the audience. He swears and treats people badly.
4. Make a plan and sketches of Charlie’s costume In Part 2, Scene 5, Charlie is in a boxing match with
and concentrate on the following: Rafi, who is representing the Corporacy. Both have
to argue their case, and in the end Charlie wins.
• the period of the costume
As a result, Rafi is punished by the CEO of the
• material and quality Corporacy:

• colours “You failed. Really, now, do you expect me to reward

failure?... You are the real disappointment.”
• make-up and hair.
Nevertheless, in the end Rafi helps Charlie to
4: The characters unlock the cages of all the animals when he shares
the password to the Corporacy’s computer. This
Charlie Ashanti – A young boy, half British, half symbolises that he may have changed his personality
African. He can communicate and speak with by the end of the play.
lions. He is obviously a very special child. He is
Maccomo – Maccomo is the Circus’s lion tamer,
determined to seek revenge on the large company
and he cannot accept that anyone else can do the job
which has kidnapped his parents. He believes
as well as he can. He likes to use his whip and shout,
strongly in animal rights and fights to release the
but he has complete control of the lions and the
circus lions back to their habitat in Africa, as well
whole pride obeys him.
as all the other animals being held captive. He’s an
emotional character, but he’s brave, determined and “They know their place, and this Charlie would
adventurous. One must remember that Charlie was learn his.”
acting alone in his attempt to save his parents and
faced many difficulties which threaten his life.
4
 GCSE Drama set text notes

He’s jealous that Charlie can talk to the lions and

TASKS
tries to humiliate him by asking him about his
background e.g. in Part 1, Scene 10... Look at Part 1, Scene 7.
Maccomo – “… Where are you from?” Ideas for short questions:
Charlie – “London” 1. Briefly describe Maccomo’s character in this
extract.
Maccomo – “No. In London the people are white…
But where is your brown skin from?” 2. Suggest a suitable costume, hair and make-up
for the character Maccomo and explain your
This demonstrates his ignorance and the character’s
choices.
one-sided and narrow attitude.
3. Describe two suitable sound effects you could
In Part 1, Scene 9, Charlie discovers that Maccomo use in this extract.
is putting a drug in the lion’s water and from then
on, he promises that he will help them to escape 4. How would the character of Maccomo say the
from their master’s cruel claws. following lines?

By Part 2, Maccomo has also been influenced by “They know their place, and this Charlie would
the company and is working as a servant to the learn his.”
Corporacy.
State your reasons for your vocal choices.
CEO – He is the manager of the pharmaceutical
company and is powerful and selfish. He thinks of 5. As an actor, choose one movement, one gesture
no one but himself, his wealth and status. and one facial expression to communicate
Charlie’s character in this extract.
The other characters
6. Describe two suitable lighting effects you could
There is a large number of other characters. use in this extract.

The circus crew – PIROUETTE the aerialist, 7. As a designer, name the props both actors would
HERCULE the strong man, MADAME BARBUE, a use in this extract. Then, describe the props,
bearded lady, SIGI, an Italian acrobat, and MAJOR (colour, quality and time period) and explain
TIB, the captain and ringmaster. how the actors would use them.

KING BORIS appears at the beginning of the second Ideas for question 4 in the examination
paper (10–15 Marks)
part. He helps Charlie to reach Africa.

The cats and lions are also prominent, although 1. Describe how you would stage Part 1, Scene 8
SERGEI is the most prominent. NINU is a in a performance of the play. In your answer,
chameleon who can absorb languages and colours. refer to the following:
These two help Charlie most on his journey around • your choice of stage
the world to save his parents and the animals.
• the style of the production

DISCUSSION TASKS • set and props.

As a designer, what kind of costumes would you State the reasons for your choices.
choose for all these characters? Would you keep the
costumes simple, or would you choose costumes 2. As a designer, explain how you would use a
which would reflect the character exactly e.g. a Traverse Stage to stage this extract. In your
crown and cape for the King? What are your ideas answer, refer to the following:
for Sergei and Ninu’s costume? Symbolic costumes • the placement of the audience
or naturalistic ones?
5
 GCSE Drama set text notes

• the style of the production

PERFORMING TASKS
• lighting and sound
Choose a specific extract, possibly one which is very
• set and props. important in the play.

(You can adapt the shape of the stage, choosing 1. With a partner or in a group, discuss what the
either a Thrust, Proscenium, Theatre in the characters’ relationship is with each other in this
Round stage and so on.) extract.

3. Explain how an actor portraying the character 2. What is the characters’ motivation in the
of Sergei would use physical skills to extract?
communicate the character to the audience. In
your answer, refer to the following: 3. How would they use the space, and remember,
when answering this question, you must
• character motivation in this extract consider the shape of the stage. Discuss and
experiment with the movements and the
• movement and gesture interaction in the extract.
• posture 4. Consider the proxemics, i.e. the distance and
• facial expressions. proximity between the characters in the extract.
5. Consider your character’s gestures, posture and
4. Look at Part 2, Scene 1. Explain how an actor
gait.
portraying the part of King Boris would use
vocal skills to communicate the character to the 6. Consider your use of voice, tone, tempo and
audience. In your answer, refer to the following: pitch.

• character motivation in this extract 7. Remember that your interpretation is unique,

but you must fully consider the playwright’s
• tone and tempo intention.
• pitch.
As you practise the extract, you may improvise and
5. Describe how the actors would use the stage also use many other techniques e.g. hotseating in
and interact in Part 1, Scene 13. In your answer, order to try and get to know the character better.
refer to the following: Consider the following questions:

• your choice of the shape of stage and space • Who am I?

• character positioning in the space • Where am I?

• distance and proximity of characters in the • When is it happening?

space. • What do I want?
Important – When you’ll be studying the role of • Why do I want it?
each character in the play, remember you need to
consider the character’s age, background and social • How will I get it?
status. Also, as you select a specific extract, focus • What do I need to overcome?
on the character’s motivation in that extract and read
the stage directions carefully in order to obtain more Perform the extract in front of the class to get
information. their response. You may explain the reasons
for your vocal choices, your movement and the
interaction to them.

6
 GCSE Drama set text notes

MORE GENERAL TASKS 5: Themes

1. Look at Part 1, Scene 4 of the play. As a Family
director, what are your ideas regarding staging
this scene? In your answer, refer to the Family is a theme which is central to the play.
following: Charlie is willing to sacrifice everything to save his
parents from the Corporacy. Although they have
• your choice of stage been kidnapped, he endangers his own life to save
them. He faces many difficulties, and he travels
• the style of the production from one place to the other in his amazing attempt to
• your ideas on the set and props find them. In the end, he succeeds in freeing them.
Although this is a familiar theme in literature, it is
• your ideas on lighting conveyed in an adventurous and exciting way in the
play Lionboy.
• your ideas on sound and music
• your ideas on costumes, hair and make-up. One must also remember that the lions are also a part
of Charlie’s family, as he can communicate with and
(Only around four of the above will usually talk to them. He not only rescues his parents, but he
come up in an examination question.) also rescues the lions and releases them back into
their habitat at the end of the play. He also rescues
2. Look at a specific part of the journey. As a the animals trapped by the Corporacy, as Charlie
director, how would you stage this e.g. Part 2, says in Part 2, Scene 7:
Scene 2? In your answer, refer to the following:
“Tell it to unlock the cages. Free the animals.”
• your choice of stage
And then….
• the style of the production
“Have you ever heard hundreds of monkeys,
• your ideas on the set and props
thousands of mice, millions of cats, dogs, lizards,
• your ideas on lighting monkeys, rhinos, elephants, a zoo, an ark, a circus
of animals pouring through a network of metal
• your ideas on sound and music tunnels?”
• your ideas on costumes, hair and make-up.
The power of companies
(Only around four of the above will usually
Charlie’s parents have discovered medication that
come up in an examination question.)
can cure people suffering from chronic asthma.
3. Look at Part 2, Scene 5, which is the boxing As a result, the Corporacy, which is a huge and
match. As a director, what are your ideas powerful company, kidnaps them because the
regarding staging this scene? In your answer, discovery will reduce the company’s profits. Fewer
refer to the following: patients suffering from asthma will need to buy
the medication that is being sold at a high price.
• your choice of stage Although the play is set in the future, there are
similar situations in our world today, with global
• the style of the production companies charging high prices for basic medicines.
• your ideas on the set and props
Rafi in Part 2, Scene 6: “When are you going to
• your ideas on lighting realise that you don’t have a choice, Charlie?...
The Corporacy is too big… It’s about looking after
• your ideas on sound and music yourself, looking out for number one, it always has
• your ideas on costumes, hair and make-up. been.”

(Only around four of the above will usually

come up in an examination question.)
7
 GCSE Drama set text notes

motivation, mime work and freeze-frames.

DISCUSSION TASKS
2. As a designer, create ideas for the set at
Do you believe that global companies have too much
different times of the play, bearing in mind
power these days e.g. Apple, Google, Facebook and
that the locations change from one to the other
so on? Is this dangerous for the future?
quickly, and that the journey is dangerous
Animal cruelty and adventurous. Focus on colours, materials,
levels, use of screens, stage equipment and
This is an important theme within the play. The props
circus animals are kept in cages and are trained to
perform for the people. They are even given drugs 3. As a costume, make-up and hair designer,
so that they appear more docile. The Corporacy also create ideas on how you would dress the four
treats the animals badly, again in cages, without any following characters: Charlie, Maccomo, King
dignity. The men handling them are nasty and cruel Boris and Rafi. Consider colour, material/fabric,
e.g. Maccomo. We also hear that Rafi abuses his dog, quality, the time period, style of hair, make-up
by kicking him. and any jewellery.
4. As a sound designer and lighting designer,
Again, this isn’t an uncommon theme for us today.
select a specific extract where the animals
Animal cruelty has increased during lockdown and is
appear. You may discuss the type of sound or
a serious social problem.
music which would be appropriate to create
However, in the play, Charlie succeeds in rescuing atmosphere in the extract and also the types
the lions from the circus and returns them to their of lighting, i.e. gels, lamps, on-screen images,
natural habitat. special effects, gobos, intensity and colour.
5. As a director, would you choose a symbolic
King Boris in Part 2, Scene 1: “Once we arrived
style or a more minimalistic style to stage this
in Venice I took him and those magnificent lions
play? State your reasons and refer to a few
straight to the roof of my Palazzo. I watched Charlie
scenes.
lead the lions one by one, their velvet paws kissing
the red-velvet steps, to the basket of my shimmering 6. Ensemble work and collaboration between the
hot-air balloon.” actors are very important in this play. Select a
scene and explain how the actors would interact
in the extract in order to bring the pictures and
DISCUSSION TASKS the story to life for the audience.
Do you believe that the play has succeeded
in dealing with the theme of animal cruelty
successfully? Do you also have strong feelings
6: Contemporary productions
about this? Is this a burning issue amongst young Complicité’s production of this play is the most
people nowadays? prominent to date. Here is an excerpt of a review of
that production:

TASKS “Upon walking into the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s

Courtyard Theatre, I immediately took an interest in
1. With a partner, make a list of scenes where the set. A few piles of hay and some drums littered
injustice or cruelty towards animals is an the stage, but there wasn’t much else. It soon became
obvious theme. You can experiment with clear to me that Complicité didn’t actually need
performing a specific extract, focusing on the anything on the stage to tell their spectacular story.
characters’ voices and movements. You can
use different practise techniques to develop The entire company worked together incredibly
the characters e.g. hot seating, levelling to tightly as a coherent ensemble. Each and every one
demonstrate power, improvisation, dividing of their characters was strong, particularly those
the extract up into units to discuss character portrayed by Lisa Kerr, who played an acrobat, a cat
8
 GCSE Drama set text notes

and a chameleon with ease, and whose performance Ideas for question 5 in the examination
I particularly enjoyed. It’s that tightness and strength paper – 15 marks
of an ensemble that helps the story really stand out.
1. With reference to a key extract of the play,
Despite the strength of the actors, the technical how would a designer choose to use lighting
aspects of the production are what really made the and sound to communicate the mood to
show interesting. The use of cameras to present a an audience? In your answer, refer to the
scene from two different perspectives was something following:
I found particularly different, as it made me shift my
gaze and focus on two different areas at once, which • how were lighting and sound used in the
kept me engaged with the performance. The use of original production?
sound was also interesting, most notably during the
• ideas on lighting
transformations that Charlie Ashanti, played by
Adetomiwa Edun, underwent, when he assumed the • ideas on sound
role of the cats and lions he spoke to. I also found
that the lighting in the climactic scene of the • mood.
performance was astonishing – I really saw the utter
2. With reference to a key extract of the play,
drive and passion of the characters in response to
explain how you would communicate the role of
what was happening to their world, but only because
any one of the characters to the audience.
of the spectacular lighting display at the end.”
In your answer, refer to the following:

• character motivation
• your ideas on voice
• your ideas on movement
• your ideas on interaction.

State the reasons for your choices.

3. With reference to a key extract of the play,

explain how a designer would use the set to
This production is full of colour and excitement, and communicate mood to an audience. In your
although it provides you with ideas, remember that answer, refer to the following:
you need to think about your own original ideas
which are similar or dissimilar to this original • the original production
version. • your ideas on the shape of the stage and the
style of the production
• your ideas on the set and props.

State the reasons for your choices.

4. With reference to a key extract of the play,

explain how a designer would use costumes,
hair and make-up to communicate mood to an
audience. In your answer, refer to the following:

• the original production

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAiaXrqYOxU • your ideas on the style of the costumes, their

colour and the material, their quality and the
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qp_OiZsACdw time period
9
 GCSE Drama set text notes

• your ideas on hair and make-up.

State the reasons for your choices.

5. With reference to a key extract from the play,

explain how the actors would interact to
communicate the relationship of the characters
to the audience. In your answer, refer to the
following:

• the acting style

• the movements
• gestures and posture
• facial expression.

State the reasons for your choices.

10
 GCSE Drama set text notes

APPENDIX
Terminology Costume, make-up and hair Lighting design
design
Vocal skills Intensity
Material Focus
Pitch
Quality Angles
Tone
Colour Special effects
Tempo
Time period Colour – gels
Pause
Hair style Gobos
Accent
Wigs Different lanterns
Voice level
Make-up
Clarity Set design
Jewellery
Emphasis
Sound design Shape of stage
Physical skills Flats
Music Backcloth / back drop
Gesture
Sound effects Cyclorama
Posture
Live sounds Colour
Facial expressions – eyes
Recorded sounds Rostra
Movement – gait
Volume Exits, entrances
Stillness
Echo Levels – blocks
Interaction Microphones Floor
Sound sources Curtains
Proxemics – distance and Instruments Ceiling
proximity Live band Stage equipment
Positioning on stage Furniture e.g. table
Physical response Stairs

Personal props

Handheld
Portable props, e.g. chair or box

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lionboy / Image by iol.co.za / Fair Use
Lionboy 1 / Image by Mark Douet / Complicite.org / Fair Use
Lionboy Cast / Image from hkeld.com
Lionboy Cast Time Out Review / Image taken from YouTube

Images are used within this resource for educational (non-commercial) use only, to facilitate learning and
to further explain concepts. Appropriate acknowledgments were provided for each image. Our belief is that
each image used conforms with the Fair Use policy, however if there are omissions or inaccuracies please
inform us so that any necessary corrections can be made. [email protected]

11