Event Name: Improvised Ensemble – Secondary
Location: Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood O’Grady Centre
Section Number: 59
General Category Guidelines:
1 piece only to be performed per entrant group.
Teachers/Tutors may not perform as a part of any group.
Prompting (side coaching) or assisting from side of stage is not permitted.
Performances may include languages other than English where it is contextual and therefore, can be readily understood by an audience.
Use of offensive language will be penalised, and the performance may be stopped. The content of the improvisation must be appropriate to the age of the performer and for a school age audience.
Theatre blacks are preferred, sports uniform will be permitted. School uniform will not permitted.
Section Specific Guidelines
Performer Limit:
3-6 Performers
Performances must not exceed stipulated section duration limits:
Years 7-12: 3 minutes
Performances will be stopped at 30 seconds over time
A scene performed using the given stimulus.
Teams will be given a scenario in which they must create that scene/situation for an audience.
Teams will be given their scenario 15 min before they are called to the stage to prepare and rehearse their scene.
The stimulus and skills for performance and improvisation will be scaffolded for the students in a 45 minute workshop (inclusive of warm up time). Sample improvisation topics and scenarios might look like the following eg. the flower shop on Valentine’s day, buying your first car, etc. Location and context will be given to help the students for performance planning.
No preparation is required prior to participation on the day. Entrants in this section will be given a call time to allow for warm up and the workshop prior to the performance.
The bell will ring 30 seconds before the end of performance time to indicate entrants should complete their scene.
Judging Criteria:
- Entertainment – was it engaging for an audience?
- Narrative – does it tell a story and how effectively is this done?
- Techniques:
- How well does it address the challenge?
- Does it effectively use all members of the ensemble?
Use of space in the context of the performance style: control, energy, spatial awareness.
- Integrity, originality and clarity in analysis, interpretation and presentation of the stimulus.
- Realisation of a coherent theatrical performance.
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Immediate Point Deductions:
- 2 point deduction per 30 seconds over time, and the performance will be stopped at this time.
- 2 point deduction for inappropriate material, or content for a school audience.
- 100% point deduction for use of any swearing or “slurs”.
