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Year 12 - Drama - Solos Prescribed Structures 2021

Character

Character: Queen Cleopatra of Egypt - 

demonstrating to goddess Isis of the benefits of her continued reign.

 

Above sourced from: https://sites.google.com/a/students.chccs.k12.nc.us/ancient-egypt/queen-cleopatra

Stimulus:  The life and times of Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator

Character: Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

Performance focus:

Create a solo performance based on the person Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. On the eve of the Battle of Actium, Cleopatra makes an offering to the goddess Isis appealing for support in order to defeat Octavian and strengthen her own power. Afraid that Isis will ignore her appeal, a calculating Cleopatra demonstrates to Isis the benefits of her continued reign. Cleopatra does this by:

  • recreating key moments in her life as queen, including her alignment with Isis
  • showing how she has manipulated various men in her life in order to gain and maintain her power
  • creating an example(s) of another real or fictional femme fatale.

Performance Style:  Eclectic with aspects of Greek Theatre* 

Eclectic theatre draws on a range of performance styles to devise performances that go beyond the reality of life as it is lived. It juxtaposes a number of performance styles to make dramatic statements and theatre that is innovative, transformational and creative. Eclectic theatre is devised with a specific purpose and intention for the audience. Eclectic theatre draws on drama traditions and practice including:

  • ritual and storytelling
  • contemporary drama practice and performance styles
  • the work of drama practitioners and associated performance styles  a combination of any of the above.

Greek theatre is a style of theatre that flourished from 700 to 300 BCE and that is most closely associated with Ancient Greece. Its main dramatic genres are tragedy, comedy and the satyr play. Greek theatre is exemplified by:

  • use of chorus, which functions as both actor and narrator
  • use of verse, stylised movement, singing and ritual
  • use of mask.

Convention & Dramatic Element:  As selected by the student from the list (linked here).  Write your selected convention and dramatic element on your Statement of Intention.

VCAA Reference Resources