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IB Theatre - Collaborative Project (first assessment 2024): Theatre-Maker Intentions

This guide provides resources for the Collaborative Project external assessment task for IB Theatre (first assessment 2024).

Theatre-maker Intentions

'Parts for Machines That Do Things', 2008, Third Angel Online ArchiveCreating your intentions

As your ensemble explores your starting point, you will begin to get a clearer sense of what themes, content, or style you are most drawn to. As a group, you will narrow down your intentions for your theatre piece, and will need to agree on the following areas.

  • The theme or topic your piece will address or explore (the 'Key Ideas'). What is the main area and why is this relevant today?
  • The target audience. This doesn't have to be a school audience, and it's OK if your target audience can't make it to the final performance.
  • The Intended Impact on the target audience. Is your piece highlighting an important issue? Provoking an important question? Giving an opinion on a relevant matter? What do you want your audience to think, feel or do?
  • The performance space. As you will actually perform this piece, this needs to be a space you can access and use.  Think about the impact you want to have on your audience and choose a space that helps you achieve this. Where will your audience be positioned in relation to the performance? End-on? In The Round? Why?

Responding to all of these points as an ensemble will lead you to your Theatre-Maker Intentions (TMIs). Phrase these in 200 words maximum, and complete the Collaborative Project Cover Sheet, which is an official IB form provided by your teacher. Everyone in your ensemble should use these exact same words. 

Adapted from "Creating your intentions", p. 8, Collaborative Project, Student Information Booklet, IBDP Theatre, First Assessment 2024, by Kieran Burgess. The booklet is available for download on his website here.

Key Terminology: Theatre-maker Intentions

Theatre-maker Intentions

Students are required to collaboratively formulate intentions for the piece of theatre (200 words maximum). These must be agreed by the ensemble and should include the following:

  • the chosen starting point
  • what the piece will address or explore
  • the target audience for the piece
  • the performance space and the positioning of the audience
  • the effect the ensemble aims to have on their target audience.

Performance Spaces

Some common performance spaces include:

  • Proscenium
  • End-on
  • Thrust
  • In the round
  • Traverse
  • Site-specific
  • Promenade
  • Experimental audience positioning (for example the audience in the center, above or below the action, and so on)

Not sure about the meaning of a theatrical term? Look it up on the American Association of Community Theatre glossary: https://aact.org/terms

         

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