Unit 2 - Area of Study 1: Using Australia as inspiration

Outcome 1

Devise and document the processes used to create a solo or ensemble performance that reflects an aspect or aspects of Australian identity and contemporary drama practice.

Examples of lear​ning activities

• 
  ​​Discuss the following in class:
  

  • features of contemporary drama practice, performance styles and associated conventions
    
  • notions of eclectic theatre and going beyond the reality of life as it is lived.
• Select stimulus material linked to Australian identity, for example:
  
  • Person: Truganini, Rosie Batty, Eddie Mabo, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton
  • Event: The Apology, Wave Hill walk off, Federation, Snowy Hydro Scheme
  • Issue: asylum seekers, Aboriginal incarceration, protection of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Place: Coober Pedy, Christmas Island, Van Diemen's Land
  • Art work: Sydney Nolan's painting Glenrowan (depicting Ned Kelly's siege)
  • Text: 7 Stages of Grieving by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman.
  • Icons: Australia's Big Things, e.g. the big banana, big lobster, big guitar, etc.
• 
  Use the stimulus material to explore contemporary performance styles, dramatic elements, production areas, actor-audience relationship, conventions of application of symbol and transformations of character, time and place. Use play-making techniques to construct a devised eclectic performance that uses three or more performance styles and does not seek to re-create real life as it is lived.
• Research the Ned Kelly Seige at Glenrowan. Use tableaux to create eight freeze frames that depict the key events of the siege and the arrest of Ned Kelly. Explore and apply a different dramatic element to each of the freeze frames. If applicable, add 30 seconds of text, exaggerated movement, and mime etc. leading in and out of the freeze frames to help enhance the chosen dramatic element.
• Brainstorm ideas for an issue relating to Australian identity, such as asylum seekers. Use the issue to explore the performance style of Performance Art. Use some of the principals of performance art: time, space, the performer's body (expressive skills) and actor-audience relationship to create a short 2–3 minute performance aimed at confronting your audience on the issue of 'What makes an Australian?' Experiment with the performance style of Invisible Theatre by using a non-theatrical space in which to perform (such as a street, park, shopping centre, etc.) Perform to an unsuspecting audience.
• Use Nan's Story from 7 Stages of Grieving by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman as inspiration. Use improvising techniques to create a scene that explores application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place to move from a funeral setting back to key moments from the deceased person's life. The moments should reveal aspects of the person's identity as it evolves through their life. (This is a good solo task.)
• Research Stalker Theatre Company's innovative use of physical theatre, interactive digital technology, contemporary storytelling and song as your inspiration (https://www.stalker.com.au). Use the performance style of physical theatre and production areas to experiment with the creation of dramatic moments that explore the 1966 Wave Hill walk off.
• Use the performance style of stage mockumentary and the production areas of theatre technologies and sound design to explore the Australian obsession with big things (big prawn, big koala, big merino, etc.) Use scripting to document ideas.

 

​​Detailed example

We are Australian 

The following example uses the song 'We Are Australian' by Bruce Woodley as a stimulus. Students use play-making techniques to create and devise an ensemble performance that goes beyond the reality of real life as it is lived. The devising process takes place over approximately six weeks of classes. Students document the process (as per Unit 1) in preparation for the analysis of their performance in Outcome 3.

Australian identity ensemble task: A play within a play

Students are given the following directions for devising an ensemble performance:

Stimulus: Song 'We are Australian' by Bruce Woodley

Subject matter: Australian identity

Performance style: eclectic – use of three or more performance styles such as: contemporary storytelling, stage mockumentary, physical theatre, puppetry

Prescribed conventions (from the study design): application of symbol, transformation of character, time and place

Setting: Australian rural town, present day

Themes: Racism, cultural Identity, friendship

Length of performance: 15-20 minutes.

Note: You must construct a central character that is your primary focus. You will also play other minor contrasting roles.

Background: You have entered a competition where regional towns create and perform a play based on the song 'We are Australian' by Bruce Woodley. The winning performance will be showcased at the Sydney Opera house on Australia Day.

Plot: Create an ensemble performance that includes the following scenes, which can be presented in any order you wish:

• A scene exploring the history/evolution of your regional town (transformation of character, time and place).
• Key moments from the auditions, showing the residents using their 'unique talents' to depict verses of the song (application of symbol). Examples: an interpretive dance about the hot wind from the desert, an interpretation of the teller of stories (verse 4) using puppetry.
• A scene/s that show the way different town residents view Australia Day (transformation of character, time and place.) For example, do they think Australia Day should be called Invasion Day? What are the views of the migrant families and/or refugees who are not mentioned in the song but who have made a new life in Australia?
• A scene depicting the final performance of your play to reveal the polished interpretation of a section of the song. This may use any or all of the following: dance, song, poetry, puppetry, rap, storytelling. This scene could be interspersed with awkward backstage moments. Something unexpected should happen…a crisis (tension, climax).