Drama: a warm-up routine

Arts and culture

Grade 8

Creating, interpretation and presentation

Module 13

A warm-up routine

DRAMA

Activity 1:

To devise a routine to show to the class: the warm-up

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Now it is your turn to instruct the rest of the class with your own warm-up routine.

Your warm-up routine must include the following:

Relaxation:

• the first priority of the actor is relaxation
• the actor’s body and voice are his instruments
• tension of any kind impairs performance
• tension usually shows itself first in the voice, because of shallow breathing
• start with the shoulders
• move on to arms and hands
• the torso is the centre of all movement, because it contains our breath
• breathing exercises are essential
• end this section with the legs, ankles and feet

Posture:

• posture must allow the free and expressive use of voice speech and movement
• focus on keeping shoulders straight, keeping the abdomen from protruding, on breath control, etc.

Breathing and voice:

• good breathing is a fundamental requirement for voice production
• the requirements for good voice production are relaxation, good posture, a plentiful supply of breath, controlled use of breathing by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, relaxed and unconstricted oral and pharyngeal resonators, and the formation of sounds well forward in the mouth to avoid a throaty tone and to assist projection
• breathing must be done with the chest, by expanding the rib cage, and with the diaphragm

Activity 2:

To create and present a written script and polished performance based on popular culture popstar idols

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Now, on to the exciting project you have been waiting for! Make sure you understand exactly what your educator wants you to do and what the concepts concerning this activity entail. Do not be afraid to ask!

First of all, you should know what Popular Culture is before you can embark on this journey.

Popular culture is any dance, literature, music, theatre, or other art form intended to be received and appreciated by ordinary people in a literate, technologically advanced society dominated by urban culture.

Television

• Television itself is an aspect of popular culture.
• It has spawned the invention of video recorders (VCRs), DVD players and cameras.
• Much of its programming also falls into this category.
• Soap operas – the daytime serials – are one form; cleverly designed commercials are another.
• In the 21 ^st century we have been introduced to the Reality TV concept, where actors are replaced by ‘real’ people in ‘real’ situations in order to win money or other elaborate prizes, e.g. “Big Brother”, “Survivor”, “The Bachelor”, “Coca Cola Popstars” and “Idols”.

To produce your own Reality TV show, you have to take note of the following:

Production

• the following are necessary for producing this programme:

• a script
• production team : producer, director, stage managers
• art department : set designers, set builders, costume designers, make-up artists, hair stylists, property masters
• music department: musical director, vocal coach, musicians
• technical department : video camera operators, sound engineers, lighting designers and operators
• marketing department
• the performers : presenters, contestants, judges