1. Writing drama
We going to look at ways of writing about drama so you can give your analysis of action and character.

2. First you will need to select a play
First you will need to select a play. This could be one that your class will read together. You may choose to study a play in small groups. You may negotiate with your teacher to study a film or video.

3. Obviously you should think about the characters when reading the play
Obviously you should think about the characters when reading the play. Keep a record on all the main characters. You could include:
Your first impressions of each character. Remember to give evidence to explain your impressions. It might be something they say or do. Or it may be something that other characters reveal.
The main things that they do in the play.
Whether they change in any way during the play.
The reasons for any changes that happen to them.
If they don’t change, does that say something important about the type of character they are?

4. For example, in a play called ‘An Inspector Calls’ a rich family are forced to consider the way they have treated poor people badly. The father, Arthur Birling, doesn’t change in any way because he is just so completely selfish. His daughter, Sheila, on the other hand, changes her attitudes completely during the play. So, the author allows us to see how some people can mend their ways but other people refuse to accept their responsibilities for how they behave towards people who are less fortunate.

5. Another thing to think about is the play’s…
GENRE

6. Genre just means the type of play or video.
A Western is a genre.

8. Did you get them all?
Romance
Spy
Ghost
Science Fiction
Comedy
Tragedy
Detective
History

9. Once you have decided on the genre of the play you should note down what your expectations will be. For example, if it is a romance story then you may well expect that, despite any problems that happen to the couple at the centre, they will be happy at the end.
If it is a detective genre then you may well expect the criminal to be caught by the end.

10. Once you have decided the genre you will have other expectations besides the ending. In a ‘whodunnit’ you may well expect the investigator to be honest and trustworthy.
In a history play you will probably expect ALL the events in the play to take place in the past.

11. Once you have finished your study and are writing about the play you can comment on whether it met your expectations or not. Sometimes writers deliberately create expectations and then change them so that the play surprises the audience.

12. As well as considering character and genre it is very useful to develop the skill of writing about key scenes in a play.
A key scene will be one which is very important in the play. The climax to a play is an obvious key scene but there will be more than one in most good plays.

13. Give a synopsis of the scene Explain why it is important
Once you have selected a scene to comment on, you should be prepared to do the following:
Give a synopsis of the scene
Explain why it is important
Consider stage directions
Consider atmosphere

14. A synopsis of the scene might read:
A synopsis is just a brief summary of the main things that happen. For example there is a key scene in a play called ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell.
Whoever reads my essay may not be familiar with the scene so I need to let them know what I’m writing about.
A synopsis of the scene might read:

15. This scene takes place on a cliff-top towards the end of the pupils’ day out. Carol doesn’t want to return to her home and has wandered off. The strict teacher, Briggs, finds her and insists that she come down. She refuses and they argue. Carol eventually agrees but nearly falls to her death just as she moves away from the edge. Briggs saves her.

16. You then need to explain why the scene is important
You then need to explain why the scene is important. So, in our example you might write:
This is a key scene because it shows how desperate Carol is not to return to the hometown she hates. When she argues with Briggs we see a new side to her because she explains her ideas very clearly and normally she says very little. She has thought a lot about school and teachers. It is also important because it marks a turning point for Briggs. Until now he has had no time for the pupils as people. Suddenly he learns to understand that they are not wild animals to be controlled by strict discipline but human beings with feelings and fears.

17. Stage directions are written by the playwright giving ideas to the actors on how they should move or say things. They can play an important part in contributing to a scene. Returning to our example again, we notice that the more Briggs tries to persuade Carol to come away from the edge, the closer she moves to it. This creates tension in the audience because we don’t know what will happen. Up until now the play has been a comedy but the writer surprises us by suddenly making it seem like it might be a tragedy.

18. Another way the stage directions are used in the play is that just as Carol relents and decides to descend from the cliff, just when the audience is starting to relax again, she slips and nearly falls to her death. Briggs grabs her and saves her. He then gives her a hug. Again, the stage direction is important because it shows him changing and having a human side with the pupils.
So, you can see how when writing about how a character changes, the notes you make on stage directions in a key scene can be used.

19. Atmosphere is another important element to consider when writing about a key scene. Lighting, music, sound effects and costume can all contribute to atmosphere.
A key scene in Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the opening scene. Three witches meet on a heath. Directors often create an evil and foreboding atmosphere by the use of the lighting (dark or with lightning flashes), the sound (thunder and wind) and the costumes (often dark and ragged).

20. Analysing a play is different to just reading it for pleasure.
Plenary
As we progress we learn to account for the pleasure or disappointment we have experienced.
Analysing a play is different to just reading it for pleasure.
Thinking about character development and the components of key scenes will help you to elaborate your response.