PLAYLAB'S NSW SYLLABUS SUGGESTIONS 2021
TOPIC 4: APPROACHES TO ACTING
The following list has been assembled by Playlab in order to provide an extended list of plays suitable for study in Topic 4: Approaches to Acting to assist educators and students to explore approaches to actor training in the 20th century and its realisation in theatre production or other forms of drama performance. The following list of titles provides a guide for selecting work written specifically to be performed by senior years aged actors. Each of the titles below provide an opportunity to apply knowledge learned in this topic in practical, age and skill appropriate performance environments.
New additions to the current curriculum suggestions: DEFINE ‘ADULT’ by David Burton, Claire Christian, and La Boite’s Young Actors Company | THE FINAL DAYS OF BEDLAM by David Burton | THE FLEDGLINGS by Maxine Mellor | GOOD GRIEF by Merlynn Tong | BATHORY BEGINS by Emme Hoy and Gretel Vella
Define ‘Adult’
by David Burton, Claire Christian and La Boite’s Young Actors Company
The Final Days of Bedlam
by David Burton
The Fledglings
by Maxine Mellor
THEMES: Dreams and Desires, Disappointment, Generational Battles
LENGTH: 1 Hour
CAST SIZE: Large cast without doubling
CHARACTER AGES: ≤50
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle & Senior Years
Good Grief
by Merlynn Tong
THEMES: Grief, Loss, Longing
LENGTH: 1 Hour
CAST SIZE: Large cast without doubling
CHARACTER AGES: ≤50
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle & Senior Years
Bathory Begins
by Emme Hoy and Gretel Vella
THEMES: Survival, Good vs. Evil, Horror
LENGTH: 1.5 Hours
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle Years
CAST SIZE: Large Cast Without Doubling
Male Monologue Collection
CAST: 1M
CHARACTER AGES: Young Adult – Adult
Male Monologue Collection Volume 2
CAST: 1M
CHARACTER AGES: Young Adult – Adult
Female Monologue Collection
CAST: 1F
CHARACTER AGES: Young Adult – Adult
Female Monologue Collection Volume 2
CAST: 1F
CHARACTER AGES: Young Adult – Adult
Impending Everyone
by Michael Andrew Collins
THEMES: Technology, Adolescents
CHARACTER AGES: Year 10 – 12 students
LENGTH: 1.5 Hours
CAST SIZE: 9 + Cast Members
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years
Orbit
by David Burton
THEMES: Ambition, Love, Success, Growing Up
CHARACTER AGES: 15 – 18
Length: 1.5 Hours
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle Years
CAST SIZE: 9+ Cast Members
Spontaneous Human Combustion
by Daniel Evans
THEMES: Trauma, Defiance, Grief
CHARACTER AGES: 16 – 18
LENGTH: 1.5 Hours
CAST SIZE: Large Cast Without Doubling
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years
Sugarland
by Rachael Coopes and Wayne Blair
THEMES: Indigenous Themes, Regional Australia, Displacement, Growing up
CHARACTER AGES: 16 – 18, Adult
LENGTH: 1.5 Hours
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years
Talking To Brick Walls
by Claire Christian & The Empire Arts Impact Ensemble
THEMES: Young People, Coming of Age, Parenting
CHARACTER AGES: Middle – Senior Years
LENGTH: 1 Hour
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years
CAST SIZE: Large Cast Without Doubling
The Chosen
by Lachlan Philpott
THEMES: Desires to be unique, Adolescents
CHARACTER AGES: Teenage to Adult
LENGTH: 1.5 Hours
CAST SIZE: Large Cast Without Doubling
TARGET AUDIENCE: Senior Years