1. ROLE PLAY
and
CHARACTERISATION

2. a means of
exploring
attitudes
and beliefs
ROLE
PLAY

3. characterisation The process of fully Developing a Character
(like you did with
the magic book)
characterisation

4. Part played by an actor/
attitude adopted
ROLE

5. WHY IS IT
IMPORTANT TO
LEARN AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE ABOUT
YOUR CHARACTER?

6. WHAT ARE SOME
TECHNIQUES
WE COULD USE
TO EXPLORE OUR
CHARACTER?

7. THOUGHT TRACKING LETS FREEZE THE ACTION RIGHT HERE.
IF MAXIMUS COULD TALK
WHAT WOULD HE SAY? WHAT IS HE THINKING?
An aid to characterisation: the character speaks their thoughts out loud
THOUGHT TRACKING

8. THOUGHT TUNNEL

9. NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.
KILL THEM ALL
NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.
VOICES
IN THE
HEAD

10. Questioning a character in role
HOT SEATING

11. I miss you so much since you left me. I can barely eat, I can’t work
Dear Anna,
I miss you so much since you left me.
I can barely eat, I can’t work
I can’t talk to anyone at all.
Say you love me and come back to me. Please. I beg you.
Yours always. Ricardo
WRITING IN ROLE

12. ROLE PLAY
CAN HELP US
DEVELOP A STORY
MORE FULLY.

13. Key moment, scene, character,
relationship or event in a drama
FOCUS

14. Build up of excitement
TENSION

15. WE CAN USE
CONVENTIONS
TO HELP US
BUILD UP TENSION
OR FOCUS

16. A stage picture, held without movement
TABLEAU

17. COME IN … IF
YOU DAAAARE
VOICE OVER

18. Allows for a voice in head
The action is frozen
In time.
Allows for a voice in head
Or voice over
Or a soliloquy
FREEZE FRAME

19. NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.
KILL THEM ALL
NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.
VOICES
IN THE
HEAD

20. ROLE PLAY
and
CHARACTERISATION
will help you be a
better actor!
and create a better
story!

21. BACKGROUND STATUS SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS LIFE LANGUAGE ROLE PLAY
will help us
investigate
SOCIAL
LIFE
RELATIONSHIPS

22. PRACTISE QUESTIONS
Think back to a character that you successfully portrayed in your Standard Grade Drama Course. Describe that Character.
(3marks)
List five characterisation techniques you used, or could have used, to develop this character.
(5 marks)
Choose one from the list above and say how this technique helped you, or might have helped you, to develop a greater understanding of this character
(4 marks)

23. I used a character card to develop my character.

24. Candidates may include standard character card details such as name, age, occupation, personality, appearance, relationships, hobbies/interests etc.
3 marks for a description which summarises the character succinctly but fully.
2 marks for a description which gives basic information but is not fully informative.
1 mark for a brief, unhelpful, fairly superficial description.
Techniques listed in the Body of Knowledge are:
• character cards
• improvisation
• role-play
• hot seating
• voices in the head
• writing in role
• thought tracking
• thought tunnel.
1 mark for each correct technique. Accept no others. Be alert to inclusions that are not on this list eg angel and devil, and to confusion with conventions. Do not give marks for any technique not on the list above.
No mark for choice. If more than one is selected, mark the better response.
1 mark for each valid point made about how the chosen technique helped develop a better understanding of the character.