RB Short Questions

Question 1

List 4 or 5 performance skills

Answer 1

Vocal = pitch/tempo/pause/accent/volume/clarity

Physical =
gesture/stillness/fluency/expression/posture/facial expression/movement/proxemics

Question 2

Rehearsal techniques (2 X)

Answer 2

Stanislavski - Magic If - “If I were…” placing yourself into shoes of character - eg. Mother’s death
Actioning - Allocating an action/intention to a line - reading through the lines (Ruth and Alem)

Question 3

Alem =

Answer 3

Alem
He is a refugee from Eritrea/Ethiopia.
Friends with Mustapha and Ruth - with flirtatious undertones.
Colourful t-shirt.
Main Character (Reacts to situation around him)

Question 4

Mustapha =

Answer 4

Mustapha
Alem’s friend from the Children’s home. Has a crush on Ruth. Sides with Sweeney.
Branded t-shirt (more streetwise)
Friend/Sidekick type role. Acts as comedy relief to more political/intense scenes.

Question 5

Ruth =

Answer 5

Ruth
Was in love with Themba. Daughter of Fitzgeralds. Friends with Mustapha and Alem (flirting?)
Cropped top - rebellious nature.
Friend/(Love interest?). Supports Alem, despite initial hostility.

Question 6

Sweeney =

Answer 6

Sweeney
Bully at the Children’s home.
Gold chain. Black hoodie.
Antagonistic role - creates bad situations + unpredictable

Question 7

Mr and Mrs F =

Answer 7

Fitzgeralds
Alem’s foster parents - middle class? (unclear). Ruth’s parents.
Mrs: Apron, Mr: Shirt/Tie
Parent role - dilemma between them and Mr Kelo.

Question 8

Mr Kelo =

Answer 8

Mr Kelo
Alem’s father.
Shirt and Trousers
Fatherly role - dilemma between him and Fitzgeralds.

Question 9

Structure and Style of play:

Answer 9

Non-linear
Episodic structure (stand alone scenes)
+ Elements of Epic Theatre (Political message etc. )

Question 10

Close together on stage =

Answer 10

If characters are near = emotional closeness
(Note: can also be invasive/threatening)

Question 11

Far apart on stage =

Answer 11

If characters are apart = emotional distance

Question 12

Stages =

Answer 12

Proscenium Arch: - Face audience on one side, no fourth wall, Arch

Thrust space: Area going from the stage into the audience (on three sides)

In the round: Where the audience is on all four sides

Traverse: Audience on two sides, stage in middle

Question 13

Hostel set and props =

Answer 13

Dingy bed + lamp + door

Question 14

Bus stop set and props =

Answer 14

Grimy lamppost + weathered bench

Question 15

Fitzgerald’s kitchen set and props =

Answer 15

Pine worktop + stools + bowl of fruit

Question 16

Fitzgerald’s dining room set and props =

Answer 16

Large pine table + blue & white chequered tablecloth

Question 17

Scene 1

Answer 17

Eritrea/Ethiopia
Alem and Father talk about stars.
Serene, Whimsical
“It is the North Star”

Question 18

Scene 2

Answer 18

Hotel
Alem is alone in a hotel. Mr Hardwick (staff) tries to calm him.
Confused, tense, dramatic
“Where is Mr Kelo?”

“No no no”

Question 19

Scene 3

Answer 19

Children’s home
Alem meets Mustapha and Sweeney
Unfamiliar,
“Six chips.” “Be careful in here, alright”

Question 20

Scene 4

Answer 20

Bus stop
Alem and Mustapha bond -> Sweeney’s “Refugee Boy” rant
Dramatic, tense, threatening
“You talkin’ bad about my family?”
“I am a Refugee Boy.”

Question 21

Scene 5

Answer 21

Ethiopia
Alem’s family are threatened by a soldier -> Monologue
Dangerous, tense

(Monologue = distressed, dramatic)
“Leave Ethiopia or die!”
“I only wanted to be found”

Question 22

Scene 6

Answer 22

Fitzgerald’s dining room
Mr F loses keys, Alem finds them. Talk about school & court.
Domestic, Slightly awkward
“Alem, you star”
“So what did I do at school today?”
“Can’t I even say anything?”

Question 23

Scene 7

Answer 23

(Reflects the first scene)
Eritrea/Ethiopia
Alem and Father talk about stars.
Serene, Whimsical + Sense of Longing?
“It is the North Star”

“Who loves you”

Question 24

Scene 8

Answer 24

Fitzgerald’s Kitchen
Talking about going to court. Ruth starts teasing Alem and they both hear each other crying
Domestic -> Serious, tense
“But I don’t want to stay”

“I hear you every night. Crying.”

Question 25

Scene 9

Answer 25

Court Scene Unfamiliar, confusing, stressful, overwhelming “and and and and…” “I would like to wish you all a Merry, Merry Christmas”

Question 26

Scene 10

Answer 26

At the bus stop Talking about the time when Mustapha betrayed Alem and sided with Sweeney and promised not to switch sides again Tentative friendship, Recovering, Wholesome “what I want to say is… I’m sorry man.” “Yo mamma” “Never!”

Question 27

Lighting / Sound Origional production =

Answer 27

It was stylistically lit. A grainy urban video was used to show the shanty dwellings of Badme. Other projections and lighting effects were used throughout, e.g. for the stars and when Alem first sees snow. The urban atmosphere of a London street was created through the use of dark and dreary lighting. * Sound and music were used to create the warzone from which Alem escapes. Lilting musical interludes were used to underscore some of the scenes, e.g. when Alem and his father look at the stars and when he first sees snow.

Question 28

Stage / Set and Props

Answer 28

The Courtyard Theatre is an end-on adaptable stage, and for the original production, an intricate but solid set was placed across the width of the stage. It consisted of torn wire net fences and an impressive multi-level house which was scaffolded by dozens of battered suitcases