Art form: Drama – Scripted Monologue (SM)

Title: The Removalists by David Williamson

What process did you take to make/start your OSP/SM?

After choosing a monologue that I really connected with, I then needed to familiarise myself with the whole play. I read the play to gain an understanding of the story, as well as the events leading up to my character’s monologue. Next, I ensured I made sense of the monologue’s subtext and the character’s objectives. From there, I could learn the lines, block the scene and make voice & movement choices.

What did you find most useful in class to help prepare you to create your solo?

Whenever my Drama teacher allocated class time to work on our exam pieces, I used it to my full advantage. I discovered that working with my peers and exchanging constructive feedback was extremely useful. My Drama class was also fortunate enough to have external examiners come in to give feedback on our progress. The feedback I received from them was tremendously advantageous, and I was able to increase my marks from mid 70s to high 90s.

What tips do you have for other year 12 students to help them prepare for their WACE exam?

Tip #1: I would most definitely recommend to start early. Search for potential scripted monologues and begin brainstorming ideas for your OSP as soon as possible. It always takes longer than you think! This will help you avoid stressing later in the year when you’re juggling work and assessments from all of your classes. It also allows you more time to refine and rehearse your work.

Tip #2: Choose a monologue/write an OSP that you will enjoy performing. You’ll be spending a lot of time working on these pieces, performing them over and over. If you’re passionate about your work, it will make all the rehearsals and performances much more rewarding.

Tip #3: Practise, practice, practice! Rehearse consistently and often. I found it useful to rehearse in different locations and in front of a range of audiences. If you rehearse in the same environment, you risk becoming too comfortable and will find difficulty in adapting to a new setting such as an exam room!