IELTS Cue Card 88: Describe A Show Or Performance That You Enjoyed Watching
IELTS Speaking Cue Card with Sample Answer. Describe A Show Or Performance That You Enjoyed Watching. IELTS Speaking Part 2 With Model Answer. Also Sample answer for Part 3 discussion.
Describe A Show Or Performance That You Enjoyed Watching
You should say:
- what kind of performance it was
- when and where you saw it
- who the performer was
and explain how you felt about this performance.
Model Answer:
Probably the best play I have seen so far was a stage adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
I saw it a couple of years ago at a theater called The Playhouse in Oxford, England. It’s a largish theater that puts on many plays and other performances a year. Many of them are produced by students from the famous University of Oxford which is also in the city. The actors were all students from the university. I don’t know their names as I didn’t know them personally, and they weren’t professional actors so they‘re not famous either. That being said, they were definitely good enough to be professionals.
I was blown away not only by the superb acting but also by the powerful way the play was scripted and performed. It‘s not easy adapting a novel into a play, but this one was done very well indeed. The performance perfectly captured the characters from the book and really brought them to life. The character of Jack was especially well done. When he was cheerful and energetic we felt like cheering him along, and when he was defeated and sad we the audience felt a genuine sympathy. Although the actors were only pretending to be their characters, it was very easy to believe that we were watching real people undergoing real struggles. I actually cried at one point as my emotions overwhelmed me. It takes real skill to get that sort of emotional reaction from the audience. I left the theater feeling like I’d been right there in the play with them.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Question and Sample Answer:
Besides what you said in Part 2, what other types of performing or art are there?
There are so many different types of performing arts that it’s very difficult to count them. This is partly because the category is so broad; almost anything can be called “performing art” if it involves an audience watching some sort of performance where the artist uses their body and facial expressions. Besides plays in the theater, people can go and see music concerts, dance performances, acrobatics, comedy routines, opera, and circus performances. Often these categories overlap. For example, circuses often feature dance, music and acrobatics. In all types of performances rehearsals are very important. These are often called “dry runs”. Before the Opening night, where the performers will be before a real audience for the first time, it‘s customary for them to wish each other good luck by saying ”break a leg”.
Do you think people generally prefer to go to a concert or to listen to recordings of music?
Many people are put off the idea of going to concerts because they can be expensive, especially if the artist performing at them is famous. They prefer to listen to music on sound systems in their own home. The truth is that most concerts don’t cost an arm and a leg and are actually quite affordable. Listening to recorded music has its advantages: the sound quality is usually crystal clear, you can listen to a song over and over again and you can listen at any time and place that suits you. Despite this, die-hard fans of an artist will say that nothing can compare to seeing a live performance. The atmosphere can be electric, with cheering fans and spectacular displays of light and sound. Seeing your favorite band walk onto the stage is incredibly exciting, and when they start to play the first song of the night the entire venue can erupt into cheers and applause. If you really want to experience music in its undiluted form, you really do have to go to a concert.
Do you think art forms such as ballet and drama are important in life?
Many people will dismiss art forms like ballet and drama as fuddy-duddy and boring, even old fashioned. They will tell you that in today’s world nobody wants to sit through two or more hours of prancing about on stage, and that movies are much more exciting. I would say that although stage performances are often slower-paced than movies and other art forms, this brings with it a far richer experience for the audience. More traditional art forms such as these keep our culture alive and allow people to explore their artistic heritage. If nobody went to see ballet and drama, without a doubt, life would be a lot duller.
Do you think the government has a responsibility to support cultural activities in society?
Absolutely. Cultural activities can really bring people together and allow them not only to make new friends but also to explore their culture. If the government didn’t sponsor the arts, who would? The long and the short of it is that apart from charities there are very few private organizations who want to promote the arts because there’s generally very little money in it for them. Especially in rural and isolated areas it‘s very hard for people to get access to cultural activities; most art venues like theaters, galleries and museums are located in cities. Government help can bring cultural activities to other places too, allowing more people to benefit from them. This can be especially effective in schools where even a small investment can have a huge impact on people’s lives. .