Creating a Portfolio or Devising Log

In GCSE Drama, creating a portfolio or devising log is an essential part of the process, helping you to document, reflect on, and evaluate the development of your performance, design, or direction. A devising log is a record of your ideas, decisions, and the creative journey from the initial stimulus to the final performance. It includes responses to the stimulus, exploration of your chosen specialism, and reflects on feedback, health and safety considerations, and the impact of the final performance.

Stimulus, Initial Response and Ideas

A stimulus is any starting point or inspiration that triggers the creative process for devising a performance. It could be a theme, event in history, plot, structure, form, style, genre, or design. Responding to a stimulus is the first step in creating a piece of theatre. Your devising log should capture the initial reaction to the stimulus, followed by the development of ideas.

Stimulus:

Themes: Choose a central theme that can guide your work, such as identity, conflict, love, social issues, betrayal, or family dynamics.

Events in History: Often, historical events can provide rich material for devising. For example, devising a piece based on a world war, a civil rights movement, or a key political event.

Plot: The basic storyline can form a starting point. Think about what conflict drives the action and how the story can unfold.

Structure: Consider the structure of your piece. Will it follow a traditional three-act structure, or will you experiment with non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or fragmented scenes?

Form: What form will your piece take? Monologues, dialogue, physical theatre, choral work, or improvisation are all options.

Style: Is your piece going to be naturalistic (realistic and grounded in the real world), or will you explore a stylised form, such as absurdist theatre, surrealism, or expressionism?

Genre: Decide on a genre. Will it be a comedy, tragedy, melodrama, farce, or something else? The genre will affect the tone, pacing, and performance style.

Design: Initial thoughts on design aspects (set, costume, lighting, sound) might also be considered here, linking your ideas to the physical environment of the performance.

Initial Response and Ideas:

This is where you begin to record your first thoughts and impressions. Reflect on your emotional or intellectual response to the stimulus.

Write down ideas that come to you quickly, even if they seem basic or unpolished. Sometimes the most unique ideas come from early, instinctive responses.

Identify the main conflict or issue you want to explore and how it will unfold. Consider whether the piece will challenge or engage the audience in specific ways.

Chosen Specialism

In GCSE Drama, you will likely focus on one of three main specialisms: performing, directing, or designing (e.g., set design, costume design, lighting/sound design, etc.). Your devising log should reflect your chosen specialism and how it influences the creation of the performance.

Performers and Directors:

If you are a performer, your log should document your character development, vocal and physical work, and how you explore the role. Include information on how you interpret the script or stimulus, character research, rehearsal techniques, and physicality choices.

If you are a director, your log should record your vision for the piece. This includes the blocking (stage movement), actor direction, pacing, and the overall concept for the performance. It’s important to reflect on how you’re guiding performers to deliver their best work, and how you’re shaping the performance as a whole.

Designers:

If your specialism is design, document the development of your design ideas for set, costumes, lighting, and sound. Write about the style and tone of the design, how the design relates to the themes of the piece, and how it will help to bring the world of the performance to life. For example, does your set use minimalist design or elaborate, detailed props? What atmosphere does your lighting design create?

Process and Further Ideas

The process section of your log should focus on how you develop and refine your initial ideas, based on group discussions, rehearsals, and feedback. This section allows you to document how the work evolves and how you refine and improve your ideas.

Developing and Refining Ideas:

As you move from the initial stages of devising to more detailed rehearsal work, record how ideas change. For example, you may change the direction of a character’s arc or alter the pacing of a scene based on feedback or new discoveries during rehearsals.

It’s also useful to document specific exercises or games used in rehearsal to help explore character, relationship, or theme (e.g., improvisation, physicality exercises, etc.).

Gathering and Responding to Feedback:

Feedback is crucial in the devising process, whether it comes from peers, the director, or teachers. Record how feedback helps you improve your work, refine ideas, or change direction. Reflect on how you respond to constructive criticism and adapt your performance or design to meet the requirements of the piece.

Example: "After receiving feedback on my character’s emotional depth, I decided to explore more internal conflict through body language, which improved my portrayal."

Health and Safety Considerations:

In your devising log, note any health and safety issues that arise during the process. This could include concerns about movement safety, props (e.g., if they are heavy or could cause harm), or the physical requirements of the piece (e.g., stunts, running).

You should also document any actions taken to ensure the safety of the cast and crew (e.g., warm-ups, rehearsal space safety checks, risk assessments).

Audience Response and Impact:

As you rehearse, think about how your audience will receive the piece. Your log should document your thoughts on audience engagement, emotional impact, and intended responses. Will your piece make the audience laugh, cry, or think critically about a social issue?

Consider feedback from early performances or previews. What worked well? What could be improved? Record any changes made in response to audience reactions.

Final Performance and Evaluation

The final part of your devising log focuses on the completed performance and an evaluation of the process. This is where you can reflect on the journey, both individually and as a group, from concept to final execution.

Final Performance:

Record the outcomes of your final performance: Did it achieve what you intended? Did it successfully engage the audience? How did the design elements (set, lighting, sound) and the acting work together? Reflect on your contribution to the final piece, whether as a performer, director, or designer.

Stage management: Document how the technical aspects, such as set changes, lighting cues, and sound effects, were integrated into the performance.

Evaluation:

Reflect on the overall process. What went well? What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? Consider what you would do differently in a future project.

This section should also involve self-reflection on your learning. For example, if you were a performer, how did your acting skills improve throughout the project? If you were a director or designer, how did your vision evolve?

Example: "The pacing of the second act felt too slow in the first preview, so we adjusted the timing of the transitions, which improved the flow and kept the audience engaged."

Conclusion

Creating a portfolio or devising log is an integral part of documenting and reflecting on the devising process. It helps you keep track of your creative journey, from the initial response to a stimulus, through the exploration of your chosen specialism, to the final performance and evaluation. By maintaining a detailed and reflective log, you not only meet assessment requirements but also gain valuable insight into your artistic growth and the collaborative process. Your log should show how you develop, refine, and respond to ideas, feedback, and challenges while considering the impact on both the performance and the audience.