title: Dynamic Conditioning: Preparation of actors for the delivery of dynamic performance

authors: Sturgess-Monks, Nicholas

subjects: dynamic

abstract: This thesis represents an attempt to establish, and develop, a methodology for the preparation of actors for delivery of a physically and vocally dynamic performance, informed by the fact of theatrical immediacy. Specifically, this can be understood as a systematised collection of exercises and principles that are conducive to such an intent. The effectiveness of the conditioning exercises engaged in were tested through the preparation and staging of The Best Thing!, a full-length play, for public audience.

A structural division has been made in this document between theoretical research and practical elements. In Chapter 1 can be discovered the progression of theory that informed the development of exercises engaged in, as well as stylistic intentions. The paradigmatic state of the modern theatre is discussed, in relation to the new performative mediums of film and television, concluding that a formal shift is required in theatre if it is to continue to be justified as a relevant artistic medium in contemporary culture. This is formed with reference to the prior work of a range of theatrical practitioners and theorists of the past century.

In Chapter 2 the successive stages of practical research undertaken are discussed. Beginning with the training investigations, continuing into a discussion of rehearsal processes, and culminating with an analysis of The Best Thing! in this specific staged form, with attention given to its success with respect to the performance Dynamics identified in the research previously enacted.

Documentary material, regarding investigative processes and theoretical development may be found within the Appendices. This includes a detailed dramaturgical analysis, a narrative deconstruction of The Best Thing!, and a complete elaboration of the activities and exercises engaged in during the research process. Several videos are also included, providing practical demonstration of events discussed.

text: Dynamic Conditioning: Preparation of actors for the delivery of dynamic performance This thesis represents an attempt to establish, and develop, a methodology for the preparation of actors for delivery of a physically and vocally dynamic performance, informed by the fact of theatrical immediacy. Specifically, this can be understood as a systematised collection of exercises and principles that are conducive to such an intent. The effectiveness of the conditioning exercises engaged in were tested through the preparation and staging of The Best Thing!, a full-length play, for public audience.

A structural division has been made in this document between theoretical research and practical elements. In Chapter 1 can be discovered the progression of theory that informed the development of exercises engaged in, as well as stylistic intentions. The paradigmatic state of the modern theatre is discussed, in relation to the new performative mediums of film and television, concluding that a formal shift is required in theatre if it is to continue to be justified as a relevant artistic medium in contemporary culture. This is formed with reference to the prior work of a range of theatrical practitioners and theorists of the past century.

In Chapter 2 the successive stages of practical research undertaken are discussed. Beginning with the training investigations, continuing into a discussion of rehearsal processes, and culminating with an analysis of The Best Thing! in this specific staged form, with attention given to its success with respect to the performance Dynamics identified in the research previously enacted.

Documentary material, regarding investigative processes and theoretical development may be found within the Appendices. This includes a detailed dramaturgical analysis, a narrative deconstruction of The Best Thing!, and a complete elaboration of the activities and exercises engaged in during the research process. Several videos are also included, providing practical demonstration of events discussed.

year: 2013

title: New Zealand late miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology: Studies of planktic foraminifers and bolboforms at oceanic sites 593 and 1123, and selected onland sections

authors: Crundwell, Martin P.

abstract: Using high-resolution suites of core samples, including 940 samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 593 in southern Tasman Sea off western New Zealand, and 353 samples from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1123 in the Southwest Pacific Ocean off eastern New Zealand, this study documents for the late Miocene interval (about 11.6 to 5.2 million years ago) the nature and abundance of planktic foraminifers in these uncomplicated and virtually uninterrupted oceanic sequences. The discovery and documentation of bolboforms at both sites - an enigmatic group of marine calcareous protophytes new to New Zealand - has enabled a highly-refined and integrated planktic foraminiferal and bolboform zonation to be established with 69 well-defined biostratigraphic events - highest and lowest occurrences, acme zones, and coiling zones - that are potentially useful for the correlation and subdivision of the late Miocene in New Zealand. It has also enabled these bioevents to be correlated with the excellent paleomagnetic record at ODP Site 1123 (Wilson et al. in prep.) and age calibrated directly or indirectly with the geomagnetic polarity time scale GPTS-95 (Cande & Kent 1995). This represents a major advance in New Zealand late Miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology and it is the first time a robust late Miocene chronology has been developed entirely from local data. 
The study also links the major microfossil bioevents established in the offshore records at Sites 593 and 1123 back into selected onland New Zealand sections (730 samples), where the late Miocene is rather poorly resolved, thereby improving our ability to date, correlate, and interpret the paleoceanographic significance of late Miocene events more widely. Reassessment of faunal criteria used for the operational recognition and correlation of the late Miocene Tongaporutuan Stage in onland New Zealand, shows that the current defining faunal criterion for the base of the stage, the lowest occurrence of benthic foraminifers of the Bolivinita quadrilatera group, does not maintain a consistent position with respect to the robust biostratigraphic framework of planktic foraminiferal and bolboform events at Sites 593 and 1123. Consequently, it is proposed that the lower Tongaporutuan Stage boundary should be redefined as the base of the Kaiti Coiling Zone and (secondarily) by the highest common occurrence of Neogloboquadrina mayeri s.l. The redefinition of the Tongaporutuan Stage locates the Waiauan-Tongaporutuan Stage boundary close to the earliest New Zealand occurrences of the B. quadrilatera group. Because all of these events occur near to the base of base of Chron C5n.2n (10.95 Ma), at a stratigraphic level that is about 1.3 million years older than rocks at the base of the Tongaporutuan stratotype in North Taranaki, a new reference section is needed for the base of the stage.

text: New Zealand late miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology: Studies of planktic foraminifers and bolboforms at oceanic sites 593 and 1123, and selected onland sections Using high-resolution suites of core samples, including 940 samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 593 in southern Tasman Sea off western New Zealand, and 353 samples from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1123 in the Southwest Pacific Ocean off eastern New Zealand, this study documents for the late Miocene interval (about 11.6 to 5.2 million years ago) the nature and abundance of planktic foraminifers in these uncomplicated and virtually uninterrupted oceanic sequences. The discovery and documentation of bolboforms at both sites - an enigmatic group of marine calcareous protophytes new to New Zealand - has enabled a highly-refined and integrated planktic foraminiferal and bolboform zonation to be established with 69 well-defined biostratigraphic events - highest and lowest occurrences, acme zones, and coiling zones - that are potentially useful for the correlation and subdivision of the late Miocene in New Zealand. It has also enabled these bioevents to be correlated with the excellent paleomagnetic record at ODP Site 1123 (Wilson et al. in prep.) and age calibrated directly or indirectly with the geomagnetic polarity time scale GPTS-95 (Cande & Kent 1995). This represents a major advance in New Zealand late Miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology and it is the first time a robust late Miocene chronology has been developed entirely from local data. 
The study also links the major microfossil bioevents established in the offshore records at Sites 593 and 1123 back into selected onland New Zealand sections (730 samples), where the late Miocene is rather poorly resolved, thereby improving our ability to date, correlate, and interpret the paleoceanographic significance of late Miocene events more widely. Reassessment of faunal criteria used for the operational recognition and correlation of the late Miocene Tongaporutuan Stage in onland New Zealand, shows that the current defining faunal criterion for the base of the stage, the lowest occurrence of benthic foraminifers of the Bolivinita quadrilatera group, does not maintain a consistent position with respect to the robust biostratigraphic framework of planktic foraminiferal and bolboform events at Sites 593 and 1123. Consequently, it is proposed that the lower Tongaporutuan Stage boundary should be redefined as the base of the Kaiti Coiling Zone and (secondarily) by the highest common occurrence of Neogloboquadrina mayeri s.l. The redefinition of the Tongaporutuan Stage locates the Waiauan-Tongaporutuan Stage boundary close to the earliest New Zealand occurrences of the B. quadrilatera group. Because all of these events occur near to the base of base of Chron C5n.2n (10.95 Ma), at a stratigraphic level that is about 1.3 million years older than rocks at the base of the Tongaporutuan stratotype in North Taranaki, a new reference section is needed for the base of the stage.

year: 2004

title: Popoia te reo kia penapena: Nurture the language

authors: Berryman, Mere

subjects: Maori language

abstract: Research to develop a Māori language screening tool (Specialist Education Services, 2001), identified that students entering Māori Medium at five, could be classified into one of four Māori language competency, groups. Concurrently, teachers raised their need to identify the Māori language proficiency of five year olds entering Māori Medium so that more appropriate teaching strategies could be incorporated in preparation for literacy.
Accordingly, three Māori oral-language assessment tools, to help identify the Māori language competency of students entering Māori Medium settings at five years of age and provide formative information, were developed in response to this need. This paper details the development and trial of these tools.

text: Popoia te reo kia penapena: Nurture the language Research to develop a Māori language screening tool (Specialist Education Services, 2001), identified that students entering Māori Medium at five, could be classified into one of four Māori language competency, groups. Concurrently, teachers raised their need to identify the Māori language proficiency of five year olds entering Māori Medium so that more appropriate teaching strategies could be incorporated in preparation for literacy.
Accordingly, three Māori oral-language assessment tools, to help identify the Māori language competency of students entering Māori Medium settings at five years of age and provide formative information, were developed in response to this need. This paper details the development and trial of these tools.

year: 2009