ACa+Non-Naturalistic+Conventions+for+Ensemble

Below are various theatrical conventions (acting and staging techniques) that occur in non-naturalistic theatre. Try to use a variety of these in your devised work

|| **__Non-Naturalistic Theatrical Conventions __** character to narrator || choral speaking (more than one speaking together) || shadows cast on back wall with white light || use of free standing screen and shadow projection || voice over || use of masks repetition slow motion || music to create atmosphere/tension || sound collage – sound blanket limited dialogue to build tension/highlight importance dramatic tension and use of pauses opposing tension (body being pulled by invisible string in opposite directions) split stage || **<span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Try the following: **<span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Instead of using a table with characters sitting around it, try putting the chairs in a line and continue to look the direction you would if still around the table <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Try scenes out using some of the styles above and see what works the best <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Add music to a scene to see how it changes the mood. <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Try adding stylised movement (Physical Theatre, Symbolic Gestures, Asian Theatre, Actors as Puppets, ritualistic dance, Laban,) as an intro or mid scene – try the same scene in slow motion. <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Introduce a character with music and movement. <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Try adding projection to certain scenes, again projection can be abstract or as in Epci Theatre style, could be images of real people, historical events, quotes, statistics, facts etc)   **<span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">EXPERIMENT – HAVE FUN! **
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">use of multiple time frames (cross cutting) ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">stylised movement ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">actor playing multiple and changing roles (changing character)
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">actor playing multiple and changing roles (changing character)
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">use of projection to convey a message ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">use of narrator and shared narration
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">use of placards and signs ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">open white stage lights (no colour gels)
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">actors as props and/or set pieces (physical theatre) ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">use of song or poetry to convey a message ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">visible stage lights and other equipment
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">sophisticated use of freeze frames ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">monotone use of voice ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">props having multiple uses
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">limited use of emotion or exaggeration ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">flash-backs and flash-forwards ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">happy scenes performed sadly and vice-versa ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">bare/symbolic sets / symbolic costume ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">limited physical involvement between characters ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">actors speaking stage directions aloud ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">self-contained episodes (not scenes) ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">characters with backs to the audience ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">speaking directly to the audience in performance (monologues)
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">narration that spoils upcoming dramatic tension
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">symbolism through movement and gesture ||
 * = <span style="color: #003366; display: block; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">stylised use of voice