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The Caretaker – VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3/4 Production

The Caretaker  by Harold Pinter

2022 Theatre Studies production

The VCE Theatre Studies Outcome 1 for Unit 3 concerns Staging Theatre and is worth 60% of the mark for the unit. Students have to take on 2 roles, usually acting and one other.

The Caretaker  is described as a “Comedy of Menace” with the threat of sudden violence lying just beneath the surface. It is considered to be one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century.

The design brief has focused on the theme of alienation, a muted colour palette and a cluttered room which leaves little space to move. The Set, Lighting and Costume Designs have all been created by the class with the Audio Design produced by Mr Croft after consultation with them.

For the actors the challenges are the play’s staccato language and rhythms which are balanced through strategically placed pauses. The silences emphasising the potential explosive nature of the situation.

Thematically the work is confronting in some places, ridiculous in others and darkly humourous rather than “laugh out loud” funny.

While the Sciences help us understand the world it is the Arts that make meaning from that understanding.