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Travesties by Tom Stoppard

These drama teaching and learning materials for years 12 and 13 were developed around Travesties by Tom Stoppard. They are based on the resource kit for teachers produced by the Auckland College of Education and the Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) Education Unit.

The original resource was developed for teachers and students attending the ATC's production of Travesties in 2002. Overall it gives a comprehensive picture of how a professional drama production is mounted. Although much of the resource is specific to this production, it nevertheless provides valuable information and classroom activities for those who have not seen that production.

The resource includes background material on the playwright, play and relevant dramatic forms, detailed director/actor/designer interviews, and specialised classroom activities. Teachers will find these materials and activities valuable both for direct use, and as a comparison and template for studying other plays/productions and performance practice. For example, teachers may decide to refer to the interview and activities on the stage management or set and costume design in the context of a class production.

This project was developed for the Ministry of Education in 2002 by Lisa Sharp and Bridget Crooks, Auckland Theatre Company Education Unit.

Jump to > Curriculum links The writer and director The world of the play The actors and their roles The technical team: set and costumes The technical team: stage management Critical response to the play

Curriculum links
This page contains relevant strands and achievement objectives from levels 7 and 8 of The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum, and National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) levels 2 and 3 achievement standards.

Abobe PDF is required to use these resources PDF resourceThe writer and director (240kb PDF) [PDF help]
This section includes information on Tom Stoppard and his work. There are profiles of and interviews with Tom Stoppard (writer) and Raymond Hawthorne (director). Related classroom activities follow.
PDF resourceThe world of the play (283kb PDF) [PDF help]
This section includes information on Europe in 1917, the Russian revolution, Marxism and other historical and political issues that are explored in the play. Related classroom activities follow.
PDF resourceThe actors and their roles (297kb) [pdf help]
In this section the actors are interviewed about their roles in the play. We look at how they worked to develop their characters and how they dealt with a very dense script. There are actor profiles and interviews regarding their characters and the play. Related classroom activities follow.
PDF resourceThe technical team - set and costumes (193kb PDF) [pdf help]
This section contains information on set and costume design. There is a profile of and interview with Tracy Grant, and supporting visuals of the costumes and set. Related classroom activities follow.
Technical team - costumes - Tristan and Cecily (128kb PDF)
Technical team - costumes - Henry and Gwendolen (241kb PDF)
Technical team - costumes - Joyce and Lenin (112kb PDF)
PDF resourceThe technical team - Stage management (166kb PDF) [pdf help]
This section contains a profile of and interview with stage manager Phil Evans and a rundown of a day in the life of a stage manager. Related classroom activities follow.
PDF resourceCritical response to the play (73kb PDF) [PDF help]
This section provides a template for responding to the performance, as well as reviews of other productions of Travesties. Related classroom activities follow.

 
With thanks to the
Auckland Theatre
Company
Auckland Theatre Company
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