Creating Characters (Unit 4 Drama Solo & Theatre Studies Monologues) by Impro Melbourne

IMPROVISATION | CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT | CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING

Available online in Term 4 2020 & throughout 2021

When faced with the prospect of creating a solo performance many students become ‘blocked’, trying to work out every detail before even getting onto the floor. Creating a range of different characters and the ability to ‘transform’ between one character and the next within a solo performance is often a challenge rather than a joy.

This workshop focusses on the key area of character creation and character transformation that is required in the VCE Unit 4 Drama Solo Task. The Impro Melbourne teacher will use a range of exercises to build skills to create characters physically and vocally. Accessing the work of Rudolf Laban, Anne Bogart and many other practitioners the students will be encouraged to unlock creativity and explore a wide range of character choices and how to sustain them physically and vocally.

The second half of the workshop then focusses on how to transform between characters by using space, snap changes and ‘morphing’ and how use of focus and gaze builds the believability that a number of characters are existing in a single space. The workshop can be used as an overall general starting point or as a workshop to look a specific choices the students are making on their Solo Structure choice.

This workshop can also be adapted to help students working on their Monologue task for Theatre Studies with physical and vocal characterisation.

Improvisation is a key skill in performance creation and used as a rehearsal process globally by theatre practitioners and directors. This workshop links to the Victorian Curriculum F-10, Levels 8, 9 and 10.

Impro Melbourne's teachers are passionate, highly experienced professional actors who love inspiring creativity in students. They teach at various arts institutions, including the Victorian College of the Arts, St Martin's Theatre, Melbourne Polytechnic, NICA and Malthouse Theatre. They bring their unique understanding of creative performance and theatrical skill to open up and de-mystify the VCE Drama tasks for teachers and students alike.

Curriculum Links: Drama and Theatre Studies with a focus on VCE Unit 3 and 4 Drama.

Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social, Ethical.

Image: James Penlidis