BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

BTEC Level 2 First Extended Certificate in Performing Arts

Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Production

Assignment 1: “FMP Performance”

Dates Set: 29/03/18 Deadline: 28/06/18

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.
Submission Signatures:

Learner: …………….……………. Assessor: …………….…………………… Date: ……………

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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production
Assignment brief
Qualification BTEC L2 First Extended Certificate in Performing Arts
Unit number and title Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production
Assessor name Matthew Blackwell
Date issued 29/03/18
Deadline 28/06/18

Assignment title “FMP Performance”

Purpose of this unit

Have you ever thought about all of the things that need to happen before an audience sees a
performance? In this unit you will learn how to develop a performance piece as a member of a
performance company. You will take on a specific performing or production role and will prepare for, and
produce, a performance by carrying out tasks that are appropriate to your role. No matter what role you
undertake, you will also need to explore the performance piece you are working on.

Scenario - Vocational Context

On 21st, 22nd and 23rd June, 2018, Purple Trees Performing Arts Company will be putting on their
annual final major project. This year, the company is producing Kander and Ebb’s musical,
“Cabaret”. As performing arts students, you will be expected carry out a role for the rehearsal
period and the final performances.

Learners will be assigned either a performance role or a production role (this will focus on set
design and stage management). In this brief, performance responsibilities are listed in red, whilst
production is in blue.

All of your hard work will come to fruition when you present your performance to an audience. You will
need to make sure that you understand your responsibilities and that you are personally prepared for the
performance, whether that means learning your lines or moves, knowing your cues or making sure that
costumes, props and other materials are ready and useable. You should also understand how important
you are to the success of the overall production.

This unit focuses on the work of a company, not just the individual. It will therefore give you the chance
to experience the highs and lows of working as a member of a performance company.

This task will be assessed in two parts: firstly, through your preparation for “Cabaret”, and secondly
through your final performances or contribution to the production in the shows themselves.

Learning Outcomes:
In this unit you will:

A: Take part in the preparations for a live performance

B: Demonstrate performance or production skills and techniques in a performance

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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production

Task One: Preparation, research and rehearsal

Performance:
As part of your research into the musical “Cabaret”, you should firstly produce a research essay, which
should be at least 1000 words in length. You may wish to focus on:
 The themes explored in “ Cabaret”.
 The characters in “Cabaret”.
 The acting/musical/dance styles in “Cabaret”.

You should then reference this information regularly in a performance log. You should talk about how
your research has influenced the decisions you have made about how you sing, move, dance, act in
specific scenes. You should record how you have tried out a number of different ideas, displaying
imagination in doing so. You should also create a character profile for any roles that you have been
assigned for the show. You will be observed by your tutors, who will contribute their comments towards
your final grade.

Production:
As part of your research into the musical “Cabaret”, you should firstly produce a research essay, which
should be at least 1000 words in length. You may wish to focus on:
 The role of set design within a performance.
 Set designs from other versions of “Cabaret”.

You should then reference this information in a production log. You should talk about how your
research has influenced the decisions you have made about your design ideas. You should record how
you have considered a number of different ideas, displaying imagination in doing so. You will be
observed by your tutors, who will contribute their comments towards your final grade.

Your research essay and performer/production log should be submitted through Oracle. You may also
include sketches and drawings if you like, as well as links to online videos. If you have hand-written
documents, please scan them using college printers and send them to yourself over the network. Your
tutor will show you how to do this if you need assistance.

Deadline: 5pm 28/06/18

This provides evidence for: 1A.1, 2A.P1, 2A.M1, 2A.D1
1A.2, 2A.P2, 2A.M2, 2A.D2
Evidence required: Research essays; Performance/Production logs.

Task Two: Performance / Production

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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production

Performance:

Having produced your research and recorded your progress, your final task is to perform in the three
scheduled performances of “Cabaret”. You will be marked on your ability to:

 listen and respond to direction and instructions

 demonstrate teamworking skills
 use vocal skills and techniques
 use movement skills and techniques
 use dance skills and techniques
 use singing/musical skills and techniques

Production:

Having produced your research and recorded your progress, your final task is to perform in the three
scheduled performances of “Cabaret”. You will be marked on your ability to:

 listen and respond to direction and instructions

 demonstrate teamworking skills
 use vocal skills and techniques
 creating mood boards
 producing draft sketches
 pitching ideas
 making changes
 refining ideas
 recording costs and budgets
 creating final designs
 moving set into position on stage
 creating prop lists
 getting props ready offstage

You will be observed by your tutors during performances, and all shows will be recorded for assessment
purposes.

Deadline: 28/06/18
This provides evidence for: 1B.3, 2B.P3, 2B.M3, 2B.D3
1B.4, 2B.P4, 2B.M4, 2B.D4
Evidence required: Tutor observations; video recordings of final performances

Pushing for Higher Grades

Merit Distinction

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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2
2A.1 Use research and practical activities to
explore the demands of the performance
material, selecting and rejecting ideas
throughout. Through ongoing discussion or
reflection, you will be state why you made
certain decisions and what effect this will
have on the performance.
2A.2 Contribute in a consistently positive manner
when developing the work for performance.
Demonstrate that you engage with the work
through response to direction. Skills and
techniques will be selected and applied in
an assured manner.
2B.3 Make a contribution to the company that will
underpin the quality of the work presented.
You will demonstrate a secure and assured
use of technical skills in performance and
will undertake roles in a confident manner
2B.4 Contribute to a performance in a production
role, demonstrating competent use and
control of skills, making an assured and
consistent contribution that is integral to the
success of the piece
Evidence checklist
Task One: Research essay, rehearsal logs, character profile, tutor observations, audio/video
recordings of rehearsals
Task Two: Tutor observations; audio/video recordings of rehearsals and final performances
Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production
Approach the work with concentration and
energy. Demonstrate that you have given
considerable thought to your work, showing a
degree of perception in your ideas and the
choices made. Show an ability to experiment
with a variety of creative ideas with imagination,
applying research findings appropriately.
Show maturity and success in the selection, use
and manipulation of skills and techniques, e.g.
go beyond the obvious when considering ideas,
or apply skills and understanding in innovative or
remarkable ways. Show a sustained and high
degree of commitment to the process of shaping
and developing the work.
Performance skills and techniques will be secure
at all times, resulting in a seamless, coherent,
fluent and successful performance. The work will
demonstrate a concrete understanding of the
medium and the process (based on your
research and/or developed skills).
Contribute to a performance in a production role,
demonstrating sustained and effective use and
control of skills, making a significant contribution
to the success of the piece
☐
☐
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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production

Grading criteria

Level 1 Pass Merit Distinction

1A.1 Explore 2A.P1: Use exploration 2A.M1: Explore, develop 2A.D1: Explore, develop
and develop and research in order to and shape performance and shape performance
performance develop performance material using activities material with focus, insight
material by material in relation to the and research findings, and imagination, using
carrying out demands of the work. making considered activities and research
directed tasks. decisions in relation to the findings effectively.
demands of the work.

1A.2 Carry out 2A.P2 Carry out 2A.M2 Carry out 2A.D2 Carry out
preparatory preparatory work in a preparatory work in a preparatory work in a
work in a performance or performance or performance or production
performance or production role for a live production role for a live role for a live performance
production role performance with performance with with competent, confident
for a live competent application of responsive, competent and effective application of
performance by relevant skills, making a and consistent application relevant skills,
completing positive contribution to of relevant skills, making demonstrating a high level
directed tasks. the process. positive contributions to of commitment and input to
the process. the process.

1B.3 Take part 2B.P3 Take part in a 2B.M3 Take part in a 2B.D3 Take part in a
in a performance, performance, performance,
performance, demonstrating competent demonstrating competent demonstrating sustained
demonstrating use and control of use and control of and effective use and
the use of performance skills, performance skills, control of performance
performance making a positive making a confident and skills, making a significant
skills. contribution to the overall consistent contribution contribution to the success
piece. that is integral to the of the piece.
success of the piece.
1B.4 Contribute 2B.P4 Contribute to a 2B.M4 Contribute to a 2B.D4 Contribute to a
to a performance in a performance in a performance in a
performance in production role, production role, production role,
a production demonstrating competent demonstrating competent demonstrating sustained
role use and control of skills, use and control of skills, and effective use and
demonstrating making a positive making an assured and control of skills, making a
the use of contribution to the overall consistent contribution significant contribution to
skills. * piece. * that is integral to the the success of the piece.
success of the piece.

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 BTEC Performing Arts Level 2 Unit 2 – Preparation, Performance and Production

Task 2 appendix for performers:

 listen and respond to direction and instructions, e.g. from stage management, the director and the
choreographer
 demonstrate teamworking skills, e.g. respecting the opinions of others and supporting colleagues
 adhere to safe working practices at all times.
 use vocal skills and techniques, e.g. breath control, projection, articulation, expression, modulation, pace,
phrasing, accent, dialect, emphasis, use of pause, tone quality and vocal colour
 use movement skills and techniques, e.g. control of movement, coordination, movement memory,
awareness of surroundings and other performers, focus, weight placement, use of gesture, facial
expression, pace, physicalisation of internal feelings, handling of props, costume and spatial
relationships
 use dance skills and techniques, e.g. posture, alignment, coordination, balance, ability to reproduce
movement patterns, dynamic range, movement quality, movement style, facial expression, focus,
emphasis and appreciation of sound accompaniment
 use singing/musical skills and techniques, e.g. sense of pitch, rhythm and timing, accuracy of pitch,
rhythm and timing, style, tone, dynamics and tempo, musicality and working with sound accompaniment