Script Course Objective: Understand and apply techniques for exploring script. Understand and apply techniques for building character.

Lesson 1 Script Many plays are divided by Acts. Some of those Acts are divided further by scenes. Some plays have no divisions.

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Be able to explain what the script you are given is about. Identify information about props and set. Understand events in the script and be able to explain how they relate to the time the script was written in.

Warm up A: You Okay? B: I’m Okay. C/A: Let’s go. Improvise a short scene to show what happened before.

A Reading Read the whole play first! Discuss the questions in pages 4 and 5 of the booklet. Does the Playwright give you any clues? What are the themes? What is the plot?

A Reading Select a ten minute extract (if the whole play goes on for longer). Who are the characters? Read the extract in cast groups. Act out the extract. Answer the questions on page 6 of the booklet.

Lesson 2 Physicality and Voice Some plays will give a detailed description of characters and their surroundings. Other plays don’t.

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Explore your character’s surroundings. Be able to explain how you will demonstrate your character’s objectives to an audience. Be able to apply movement, gesture and expression to your character.  

Warm up A: You Okay? B: I’m Okay. C/A: Let’s go. The setting is a domestic kitchen. Character A/C is very angry. The setting is a library Character B is very excited. The setting is outside on a street. All the characters are in panic.

Physicality How does your character move? What is your character doing? What is your character’s emotion? How does your character’s emotion affect their movements and expressions? What is your character physically feeling? (Are they hot/cold/tired/in pain etc.?)

Voice How does your character breathe? What is your character doing? What is your character’s emotion? How does your character’s emotion affect their voice? What is your character physically feeling? (Are they hot/cold/tired/in pain etc.?) How would this affect speech?

Character Objective/s What is the purpose behind your character’s speech and movement? What does your character want? What does your character intend? Complete pages 7 to 9 of your booklet.

Climax and Anti-Climax Lesson 3 Climax and Anti-Climax

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Be able to explain how a character can demonstrate a climax or anti-climax through physicality and voice.

Warm up Voice “ Hand me that paper. Thankyou.” Fast, slow, high pitch, low pitch. Pause. How does pace, pitch, intonation, and pause affect the meaning of the words? Movement and expression Fast, slow, big, small. Stillness. How does stillness, speed, size of movement and expression affect the meaning shown?

Climax and Anti-Climax Where is there a climax/anti-climax in your script? What clues are there in the script to show a climax/anti-climax? Annotate your script with instructions for how your character should move or speak.

Application Apply what you have learned so far to the script practically. Complete page 10 of your booklet.

Lesson 4 Explicit and Implicit

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Be able to follow stage directions. Be able to identify and follow implicit and explicit instructions for movement and the use of props and set. Be able to explain more about your character through hot seating.

Relationship between characters Audience Lesson 5 Relationship between characters Audience

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Be able to apply and recognise stage directions. Be able to explain what the audience needs to understand from your script. Draw and label a plan of your stage, set and audience placement. Be able to understand and apply levels and space to show relationships.  

Space and Levels Use levels and space to demonstrate character’s status and relationships.

Performance and Evaluation Lesson 6 Performance and Evaluation

Objectives By the end of the lesson you will; Be able to demonstrate the playwright’s intentions of character and story in performance (10 minutes) To maintain character throughout a performance. To demonstrate communication between characters. To evaluate your own work and the work of others. To set your own targets for learning

Perform and evaluate your play.