Theory and Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real LAMDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Theory and Fundamentals flashcards as text
In dramatic theory, what is a 'dramatic arc' or 'narrative arc'?
Answer: The structural progression of a story through conflict, rising tension, climax, and resolution
A dramatic arc describes the structural journey of a story from its introduction through rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
What is 'neutral position' in movement training associated with LAMDA-style examinations?
Answer: A balanced, centered, and relaxed physical stance that is the starting point for any physical or character work
Neutral position is a grounded, aligned, and tension-free physical stance from which a performer can move freely into any character or action.
What does the term 'blocking' refer to in theatrical production and rehearsal?
Answer: The planned movement and positioning of performers on stage, determined in rehearsal
Blocking is the precise staging of actors' movements on stage, typically decided by the director to serve narrative and visual storytelling.
In LAMDA theory, what is the difference between 'tone' and 'pitch' in vocal work?
Answer: Pitch is the highness or lowness of a sound; tone is the quality or emotional color of the voice
Pitch describes the frequency (high or low) of a vocal sound, while tone describes the overall quality, color, and emotional resonance of the voice.
What does 'given circumstances' mean in Stanislavski-influenced acting theory, which underpins LAMDA drama study?
Answer: The established facts of the play's world — time, place, relationships, and situation — that the character accepts as real
Given circumstances are all the predetermined facts of the play's world — historical period, social setting, relationships — that shape how a character thinks and behaves.
In LAMDA spoken English and poetry examinations, what is 'sense stress'?
Answer: The emphasis placed on the most important words in a phrase to convey meaning clearly
Sense stress involves emphasizing key words that carry the most important meaning in a sentence, allowing the listener to follow the speaker's intent.
What is 'physical theatre' as a performance discipline recognized within LAMDA's broader curriculum?
Answer: A style that foregrounds the body as the primary expressive tool, often minimizing or replacing spoken text with movement
Physical theatre places the performer's body — its gesture, movement, and shape — at the center of storytelling, sometimes displacing or supplementing spoken dialogue.