Library: Theatre Studies / Drama: VCAA Monologues

Theatre Resources - Belvoir St Theatre

Click on the image above to access helpful resources from Sydney's Belvoir St Theatre. You can find information on a huge array of theatre topics, including:

directing
production
lighting design
set design
costume design

Performing monologues
On this page, there are five videos to help you work through the monologue preparation process as an actor, from identifying the audience, to considering the use of space and the importance of seeking feedback.
Performing monologues worksheet
This worksheet accompanies the five videos in the link above and is helpful for providing a structured approach to analysing a script and developing a character.

BBC Bitesize Drama revision

Click on the image above to access the BBC Bitesize Drama revision website. It is a comprehensive guide to accompany the study and practice of VCE level drama.

Styles, genres and practitioners
This section provides an overview of different theatre styles, such as Epic theatre, musical theatre, Naturalism and physical theatre.
Performance skills
This section provides an overview of the steps to developing a monologue for performance, including approaching a script, and using the space, your body and voice.

BBC Bitesize Theatre Design revision

Click on the image above to access the BBC Bitesize Theatre design revision website. It provides a brief overview of design roles, such as lighting, set, sound and costume.

About the plays

Metro Arts - Boy Girl Wall Teachers Notes
An overview of the design and production of Boy Girl Wall.
MTC Boy Girl Wall Teachers Notes
A comprehensive overview of Boy Girl Wall, including influence, performance styles and design elements.
My Shakespeare - Act 5, Scene 1 "oh wall, oh sweet and lovely wall"
This website contains a recording of A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 5, Scene 1, in which the Mechanicals perform Pyramus and Thisbe meeting through a chink in the wall.

"The Troubles" - overview of Northern Ireland Conflict
This website provides an overview of "the Troubles" - the Northern Ireland Conflict, ranging over a period of about 30 years.
Belvoir Faith Healer
View images and videos of Belvoir's production of Faith Healer.
Britannica - Faith healing
You will need to log in to Britannica. A brief overview of faith healing and related links, included people who practised faith healing.
Britannica - The Troubles
You will need to sign in to Britannica. A comprehensive overview of The Troubles, also know as the Northern Ireland Conflict.
DT+ Brian Friel
A concise introduction to Brian Friel, author of Faith Healer. Please contact your teacher for login details.
MTC Education Pack Part A
This study guide provides a comprehensive overview of the play and production, including examining characters, setting, context, style and design.
MTC Education Pack Part B
This study guide explores the design, production and actor preparation elements of the MTC Faith Healer production.
MTC Faith Healer Revision
Deepen your understanding of Faith Healer by analysing the script in more detail.
South Australia State Theatre
There are four articles relating to Faith Healer, including about the author and examining other examples of faith healers.

DT+ Into the Woods: study guide
A concise overview of Into the Woods, including information about the characters, plot and context. Please contact your teacher for login details.
DT+ Into the Woods: full production
The full recorded production of Into the Woods. Alternatively you can view key scenes. Please contact your teacher for login details.
DT+ Into the Woods: directing
Timothy Sheader, director of Into the Woods, discusses his approach to interpreting and exploring the text. Please contact your teaher for login details.
Victorian Opera: Into the Woods education resource
This guide is a comprehensive overview of the production of Into the Woods, providing background on fairytales, musical theatre, design and interpretation.
The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales
The complete collection of the Grimm Brothers' fairytales, from Cinderella, to Rapunzel and Little Red Cap (Little Red Riding Hood).
Music Theatre International: Into the Woods study guide
This study guide provides a comprehensive overview of Into the Woods, including plot and character analysis, themes, context and style.

British Council - Tom Paulin biography
This website provides a comprehensive biography and a critical overview of Tom Paulin.
Britannica - Euripides
This article provides an overview of the life and career of Euripides and an outline of his plays, including Medea.
British Theatre Guide - review of Medea
This review identifies and critique the production techniques of Tom Paulin's Medea by Oxford Playhouse, 2010.

Agatha Christie
The official website for the acclaimed author and Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Read about the author and her many books, which have been made into movies and television shows. Her play, The Mousetrap, is the longest continually running play of all time.
Arts Hub review 2011
A review of the 2011 performance in Brunswick.
Edinburgh Fringe review 2011
A review of the 2011 performance at the Edinburgh Fringe, analysing performance, reception and design.
Kyneton Historical Society - interesting pictures
Images of houses and architecture from historical Kyneton.
Vintage Australian fashion of the 1930s
This website contains pictures of the everyday dress for men and women in Australia in the 1930s.

Artistry Theatre - Our Town
View images and videos from the Artistry Theatre production of Our Town.
Britannica - Our Town
A brief overview of the play, with videos exploring the design elements of Our Town and an analysis of the play.
Britannica - Thornton Wilder
A brief overview of the life and work of American writer, Thornton Wilder. You will need to log in to Britannica.
Grover's Corners
A brief explanation of the links between the fictional town of Grover's Corners and New Hampshire.
Our Town
This video explores the lasting impact of Our Town. It includes video footage of a production and an image gallery.
Thornton Wilder official website
Read about this prolific and influential writer and explore his work. There are many videos and photographs.

How to perform a monologue

Useful websites: acting and monologue preparation

Accent audio collection
This collection of audio files have been recorded by the Acting and Music Theatre students at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. The recordings have been made under a range of recording conditions, from interviewees lounge rooms to cafes and pubs around Perth so the sound quality varies accordingly.
Actions: the 60 second challenge
This video demonstrates an actor using actions to deliver the same line in a variety of different, purposeful ways.
Active Verbs list
If you are breaking your monologue into beats and objectives, you can use this list of active verbs to help direct your vocal and body movement choices.
Developing a Character through Script Analysis
This guide will help you develop an understanding of your character through script analysis.
How to perform a monologue (for auditions)
This article looks at performing monologues from an audition perspective.
Laban's Eight Efforts: a visual guide
This diagram shows the eight movement efforts in relation to weight and time.
Laban's Eight Efforts in Combination
This youtube playlist demonstrates each of Laban's Eight movement Efforts used by three different actors.
Using the Stanislavski System to approach character development.
This guide will help you apply the Stanislavski System approach, using techniques such as objective, super objective and the Magic If.