The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Introduction to the
Stagecraft Exam
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
• Monologue from the 2016 prescribed list
• Twelve minutes in the room
• Two minutes – Framing Statement
• Five minutes – Presentation
• Two minutes – Question/s
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Common Criteria
• CRITERION 1:
– Fulfillment of the requirements of the selected
stagecraft task
• CRITERION 2:
– Skill in applying research
• CRITERION 3:
– Skill in conveying the interrelationships between
the monologue, prescribed scene and playscript
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Common Criteria
• CRITERION 4:
– Skill in the development of an artistic concept for
interpreting the monologue
• CRITERION 5:
– Skill in conveying the contexts of the monologue
• CRITERION 6:
– Skill in applying theatrical style(s)
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Criteria for Acting and Directing
• CRITERION 7:
– Skill in the use of acting and directorial choices
• CRITERION 8:
– Skill in applying acting to interpret a monologue
• CRITERION 9:
– Skill in applying direction to interpret a monologue
• CRITERION 10:
– Skill in the establishment and maintenance of an
actor-audience relationship
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Criteria for Design
• CRITERION 7:
– Skill in the use of design choices
• CRITERION 8:
– Skill in applying design to interpret a monologue
• CRITERION 9:
– Skill in demonstrating the design interpretation
• CRITERION 10:
– Skill in demonstrating the interrelationship
between designer, actor and audience
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Framing Statement
Framing statement
The context of this monologue is contemporary Britain. The particular context is in a National Trust
building in the Tudor style. The actor is leading a tour of the Fustian House. The intended meaning
of the monologue is to show a contrast between the dreariness of the house and the exuberant
nature of the character.
The style of the monologue is English comedy, with hints of the comedy of manners. The comedy is
found in the ways in which characters control each other and the situation through the clever use
of language. The given theatrical style of the play is maintained in my interpretation.
Key images and themes in the text relate to barriers, containment, exuberance, contrasts, shared
passion for history. These key images are represented in my set and costume designs through
colour, choice of materials and fabrics, fluidity and solidity, as well as the objects themselves. Key
images have been influenced by the setting (an historical building) as well as what becomes the
central relationship in the play – that between the indefatigable enthusiast of History (Lettice
Douffet) and the devotee of unvarnished fact, Lotte Schoen.
Significant research that influenced my design ideas in the areas of costume and set included
Elizabethan buildings, with a focus on grand stair cases and the carving, as well as looking at
traditional Shakespearean costumes to find influences for Lettice’s outfit in this scene.
During the process of creating the set and costume design for this monologue, I experimented with
different materials, colours, textures, dimensions and perspective to arrive at my final designs. I
also collaborated with an actor to test my ideas and designs.
My design for the staircase could be adapted and used for all three settings in a full production of the
play, Lettice and Lovage – Fustian House, the Office of Lotte Schoen in the Preservation Trust and
the basement flat of Lettice Douffet.
The Structure of the stagecraft Exam
Questions
The following are examples of the types of questions that
could be used in the question(s) stage of the
examination:
– What was one way your [use of ….] in the interpretation
captured the intended meaning(s) of the monologue?
– How did your [decision to …] in the interpretation convey
the theatrical style(s) of the monologue?
– How was [this aspect of] your interpretation informed by
an understanding of the whole playscript?
– What meaning(s) were you intending the audience to
interpret from your use of […]?