1. Dramatic Commentary
AND
Ground Plans

2. Ground Plan Audience with arrow Entrance and exit Stage Key
Opening positions of characters
Viability (roughly to scale and no obstructions to sight lines

3. Naturalistic set of ‘The Birthday Party’ –Boxed set
audience
Key
P – Petey
table
- flat
- window
- entrance/exit
- chair

4. Minimalist set ‘The Birthday Party’
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ P
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Audience
KEY
- fireplace
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - curtain
P – Petey
- table
- chair
- entrance/exit

5. 1st Column Notes for Actors
Do You Have:
Stage Position (USL, CS…..)
Voice terms(pitch, pace, tone, volume, intonation, clarity, register, accent, articulation, fluency)
Movement terms(gestures, facial expression, body language, use of levels, use of space, posture)
Feelings/Emotions towards others

6. 2nd Column Justification
Why are they in that stage position?
Why is their voice like that?
Why are they moving like that?
Why do they feel these emotions/feelings?
Show an understanding of the whole play –
of that character’s motivation –
the reason behind their actions.
Keep asking WHY???

7. 3rd Column Technical Effects - LIGHTS
AN EXAMPLE:
4 fresnel lanterns hanging at a 45 angle to give a wash of light at level 5. The key light is the sunlight coming in the window and a lamp.
One profile lantern with a gobo of a window projected on the back wall. An amber gel on the lantern to represent sunlight. At level 4 increasing to level 7 to show morning progressing and sun coming up.

8. Sound Fxs AN EXAMPLE
Sounds of seagulls to show that it is a seaside town.
Piece of classical music building up to a crescendo to increase tension and create a sombre, tense mood and atmosphere.

9. Notes for actors Justification Technical FXs Stage Position WHY?
SOUND FXS
Voice
MUSIC
Movement
LIGHTING
Emotions/
Feelings about others