Performance: A Practical Approach to Drama

Performance: A Practical Approach to Drama is a textbook which aims to develop expressive skills, improvisation and playbuilding strategies, acting technique, and critical response to live theatre. It has been written to fit any course which focuses on the development and evaluation of performance skills.

The book is designed for students to work sequentially through a comprehensive course of study. It is clearly written, logically organised and includes hints, checklists and opportunities for reflection.

Performance: A Practical Approach to Drama contains 10 chapters which are divided into small units, each of which begins with an explanation of the skills being taught and an introductory exercise.

This 'theory' section is followed by an exploration of related practical skills in workshop exercises, as well as opportunities for students to reflect on their practical work. Chapters conclude with a performance assignment which contains suggestions for assessment and relevant criteria for marking.

Features:

• concise and clearly written theory combined with a wide range of individual, pair and group exercises
• easy-to-follow chapter structure
• ongoing focus on workshopping and performance
• strong developmental approach
• strong emphasis on the value of critical responses to dramatic performance and on self-evaluation
• suggestions, hints and pithy quotations positioned at appropriate points in the margin
• small margin drawings to assist the completion of exercises (such as movement) and to illustrate stage layouts
• carefully chosen scripts (from published and unpublished works, poems and extracts from novels) as stimuli for voice, movement, improvisation and performance exercises
• written so students can use it at home as well as in class
• a glossary of key terms in each unit
• many exercises have a related debriefing to assist students' evaluation of themselves and others.