Introduction
In the IB Theatre Solo Theatre Piece (HL only), your performance must be based on research into a theatre theorist and their principles. But beyond applying conventions, you also need to choose supporting material—the text, themes, or images that serve as the foundation for your solo. The material you select will shape how effectively you can apply theory, engage your audience, and reflect in your portfolio.
This guide explains how to choose material that supports your Solo Theatre Piece and maximizes your assessment success.
Quick Start Checklist
- Select material that aligns with your chosen theorist’s principles.
- Ensure it offers creative flexibility for experimentation.
- Choose material that can be sustained in a 6–8 minute solo.
- Reflect on why this material connects to your performance goals.
- Document how the material shaped your rehearsal process.
Why Material Choice Matters
The Solo Piece counts for 35% of the HL grade, and examiners expect your material to:
- Demonstrate a clear connection to your chosen theorist.
- Support the application of practitioner conventions.
- Provide a strong basis for audience engagement.
- Inspire meaningful reflection in your report.
Strong material choice makes it easier to embody theory in practice.
What Counts as Supporting Material?
1. Texts
- A play extract, poem, or piece of prose.
- Works particularly suited to theorist application (e.g., Brecht’s political texts, Artaud’s symbolic language).
2. Themes or Issues
- Social or political concerns (inequality, identity, climate crisis).
- Personal stories that can be reimagined through a theorist’s lens.
3. Visual or Aural Sources
- A painting, piece of music, or soundscape that sparks performance ideas.
- Artaud-inspired sensory material or Grotowski-inspired minimal settings.
How to Choose Material Effectively
1. Align with Your Theorist
Pick material that resonates with their principles:
- Brecht: Political themes or texts that encourage critical thought.
- Stanislavski: Realistic narratives with emotional depth.
- Artaud: Symbolic or abstract material that supports sensory theatre.
2. Test in Rehearsal
Experiment with material early on. Does it allow you to apply your theorist’s conventions? If not, refine or change your choice.
3. Ensure Sustainability
Ask: Can this material sustain a 6–8 minute performance? Some ideas are powerful but too limited for the required length.
4. Consider Audience Impact
Think about how your material will affect audiences. Does it invite empathy, reflection, or shock in line with your theorist’s goals?
5. Reflect on Your Choice
Write about why you chose this material, how it links to theory, and how it shaped your process.
Tips for Success
- Stay focused. Choose material that works clearly with your chosen conventions.
- Be intentional. Every choice should serve theory and performance goals.
- Stay flexible. If your material doesn’t work in rehearsal, adapt or refine it.
- Use feedback. Test material with peers or teachers to check its effectiveness.
- Document clearly. Show examiners how your material choice shaped your solo.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Picking material disconnected from your theorist’s ideas.
- Choosing something too broad or unfocused.
- Ignoring how material sustains the required 6–8 minutes.
- Overloading your piece with too much text or imagery.
- Failing to reflect on why you chose the material.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
Material choice is the foundation of your IB Theatre Solo Piece. At RevisionDojo, we help students select supporting material that aligns with theory, inspires creativity, and communicates meaning to audiences. With our expert support, you’ll make intentional choices that lead to examiner-ready work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use self-written material for the Solo Piece?
Yes—but make sure it still connects to your theorist’s principles. Original writing can be powerful if it aligns with the conventions you’re applying.
2. Should my material come from the same cultural context as my theorist?
Not necessarily. You can adapt material creatively, but you must show how your chosen theorist’s principles shape your performance.
3. What if I realize my material isn’t working partway through?
That’s fine—reflect on why it wasn’t effective and how you adapted. Examiners value flexibility and critical awareness.
Conclusion
Choosing the right material for your Solo Theatre Piece is crucial to demonstrating theory in practice. By aligning with your theorist’s principles, ensuring sustainability, and reflecting critically, you’ll set your HL performance up for success. With RevisionDojo’s expert guidance, you’ll select strong supporting material and approach the Solo Theatre Piece with confidence.
