During the S2 Elective pupils have been learning new skills to do with many different elements of Production Skills, including stage fighting, make-up, costume design, props, lighting and sound. 

During block 1 pupils have particularly enjoyed looking at make-up especially special effects make up.  
Take a look at some of the make-up work pupils have been completing during the elective.
 
 
Why use make up?

1.  To help establish the character.
2.  To help an actor feel more like the character and therefore give a more convincing performance
3.   To allow the audience to clearly see the actors’ features and therefore the expressions.
4.  To help replace the loss of colour from the actor’s face sometimes caused by stage lighting.
 
 
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Stage Fighting

Pupils will learn the rules of stage fighting and how to carry this out safely on stage. 

The basic principal and motto of stage combat:

​Safety first,
Safety last,
Safety always!

Have a look at stage combat.

Stage fighting clip
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watch our some of the stage fighting lesson above.
Costume Design 

Why use costume on stage?
​
  - Helps to build a character
  - Creates an immediate effect
  - Makes an instant statement

Costume can tell an AUDIENCE

•Period of Time   
(e.g Ancient Rome)

•The Place
(e.g beach/space)

•Weather
(e.g raining, a heat wave, snow)


•Occupation of a character
(e.g Fire Fighter)


•The Occassion
(e.g wedding, funeral, party)

•Immediate Circumstances
(e.g bandages
could show
an accident)

•Personality of the character
(e.g Snobby, Moody, Evil etc)
Important costume Vocab:

•Costume:  Clothes worn by actors for their character
•Hats:  Items worn on head in keeping with the   character being played
•Jewellery:  Items worn on ears, necks or wrists in   keeping with costume worn
•Wigs:  Artificial hair in a variety of colours and  styles for any character part
•Costume List:  A list of all costumes for each character in   a drama
•Period Costume: Costume which reflects clothing from a time in history
 
 

Lighting

Why we use Lighting?
  1. To allow the actors to be seen clearly.
  2. To highlight a particular area of the stage.
  3. To create a mood / atmosphere.
  4. To create special effects.

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Sound

​Why use sound?
1.To establish the mood/atmosphere of the presentation
2.To enhance the mood/atmosphere of the presentation
3.To enhance the actor’s performance e.g slapstick, villian, hero
4.To sustain audience interest during set changes
What can lighting tell an audience?
  1. Let’s the audience know where and who to focus on.
  2. Tells us the mood or atmosphere of the scene/character.
  3. Suggest time (e.g day or night)
  4. Enhance the setting (e.g flashing lights or a strobe for a nightclub.
  5. ​Highlights an important moment in the drama.









​WHAT can sound tell an audience?
1.Establish the locality e.g seaside, city traffic
2.Establish the weather e.g wind, rain
3.Establish the time of day e.g owls, clock chiming
4.Add atmosphere e.g creepy music
5.Indicate events off stage e.g car arriving, door bell ringing.

Props

Props (short for properties) are items used or carried by an actor, or items on the set.
  • A PERSONAL PROP is usually an item carried or worn by a character e.g glasses, handbag, wallet.

  • A SET PROP is an item placed on the set, usually part of it, e.g a lamp, a clock, a picture.