In-Class Applied Dramaturgy Exercise
Churchill's Cloud Nine & Kane's Blasted
I first used the following applied dramaturgy exercise in an undergraduate theatre history course taught at Emerson College.
After a brief discussion of Sarah Kane's Blasted and Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine (the assigned reading for that day), the class was split into three groups, each with related assignments based on the text.
Each group's task presupposes a hypothetical professional situation in which detailed knowledge of the source material would be essential for a positive outcome. In this case they are an apprentice company tasked with creating parodies. Group One was assigned Cloud Nine, Group Two, Blasted, and Group Three, both plays at once. As they were creating the outlines and production plans for parodies, it was essential that they demonstrate familiarity and understanding of the plays in order to fulfill the task at hand. At the end of class each group presented their work to their peers.
This exercise can of course be easily adapted to many plays. As with any of the pedagogical materials on my site, I welcome any feedback from other educators who use any of my assignments.
After a brief discussion of Sarah Kane's Blasted and Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine (the assigned reading for that day), the class was split into three groups, each with related assignments based on the text.
Each group's task presupposes a hypothetical professional situation in which detailed knowledge of the source material would be essential for a positive outcome. In this case they are an apprentice company tasked with creating parodies. Group One was assigned Cloud Nine, Group Two, Blasted, and Group Three, both plays at once. As they were creating the outlines and production plans for parodies, it was essential that they demonstrate familiarity and understanding of the plays in order to fulfill the task at hand. At the end of class each group presented their work to their peers.
This exercise can of course be easily adapted to many plays. As with any of the pedagogical materials on my site, I welcome any feedback from other educators who use any of my assignments.
Each group was handed their assignment as follows:
GROUP ONE
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of Cloud Nine.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the play. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved a production of this play, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight?
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.
GROUP TWO
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of Blasted.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the play. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved a production of this play, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight?
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.
GROUP THREE
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of both Cloud Nine and Blasted.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the plays. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved productions of both plays, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight? For this assignment, you are to pay special attention to elements of both plays that you can conflate or contrast, that is to say that each scene should reference both plays simultaneously.
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.
GROUP ONE
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of Cloud Nine.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the play. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved a production of this play, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight?
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.
GROUP TWO
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of Blasted.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the play. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved a production of this play, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight?
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.
GROUP THREE
You are members of an apprentice company at a major festival that has just completed a summer run of both Cloud Nine and Blasted.
For the closing celebration, you are to put up a half hour parody of the plays. Assume that you will be playing for an audience that has very recently seen and loved productions of both plays, and therefore very able to appreciate “inside jokes.” Assume also that you will have access to costumes and props from the mainstage production, as well as a small budget for additional materials.
What elements and specific plot points would you parody? How would you use the structure of the play? Keeping in mind that you are doing a half hour parody, what would you shorten? What would you choose to highlight? For this assignment, you are to pay special attention to elements of both plays that you can conflate or contrast, that is to say that each scene should reference both plays simultaneously.
Present an outline and production plan of the parody you would put on.