contemporary scottish theatre introduction to the course created by l mccarry

Contemporary Scottish Theatre

Introduction to the course

Created by L McCarry


•In this part of the course you will read and learn about a number of different plays.

•You will then study the plays and their relevance to:•Social, political and religious dimensions •Use of history, nostalgia and popular tradition •Issues of gender •Current productions and issues.


Contemporary Scottish Theatre• You will have to write a CST essay in your exam,

which will be worth twenty marks.

• The study areas on the previous slide each offer two questions in the exam paper. You have to choose ONE question to answer.

• Choosing a question will depend on the type of question and which plays you feel you can talk about with most relevance to that area of study.


Contemporary Scottish Theatre• Some of the plays are very well suited to an area

of study, such as Men Should Weep and ‘Social, Political and Religious Dimensions,’ it also lends itself to ‘Issues of Gender,’ giving you lots of examples from the play to discuss.

• The Steamie on the other hand can be used in ‘Social, Political and Religious Dimensions’ and ‘Issues of Gender’ but also lends itself well to being discussed in ‘History, Nostalgia and Popular Tradition.’


Social, Political and Religious Dimensions

• This area of study involves the exploration of some of these areas, depending on the text:

• THOSE WITH A WILL BE AN IMPORTANT AREA OF STUDY FOR YOU

• social background and conditions (this will be a main study for you)• nationalism • industrial relations and the workplace • political theatre as entertainment • distribution of wealth • relationship between the individual and the establishment • sectarianism • devices used to communicate social, political and religious messages.


History, Nostalgia and Popular Tradition

• This area of study involves the exploration of some of these areas, depending on the text:

• historical accuracy • devices used to create a sense of period • myth and legend • growth and decline of industry • the sectarian divide • relationship between the individual and the Establishment • distribution of wealth • romanticism • devices used to create/generate nostalgia • use of Scottish song, music and dance • variety, pantomime and farce • satire • celebrations, rituals, social gatherings.


Issues of Gender• This area of study involves the exploration of some of

these areas, depending on the text:

• symbolic martyr • romantic hero • relationships relationship between the individual and

the Establishment • marriage and the family • women and power • men and power • sexual development of characters • oppression/suffering



Those lists are not exhaustive and you

will look at other areas within them



The plays you will read to help you to prepare to answer questions on those different areas of study are:

Men Should Weep – Ena Lamont StewartThe Steamie – Tony RoperOne Good Beating – Linda McLeanTally’s Blood – Ann Marie Di MambroThe Letterbox – Ann Marie Di MambroThe Slab Boys – John Byrne



You will also perform one acting piece from a Contemporary Scottish play. This should be contrasting to you Set Text

character.


Good Luck!


contemporary scottish theatre introduction to the course created by l mccarry

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