1. Reader’s Theatre What is it? & How do we prepare for a reader’s theatre?

2. What is reader’s theatre?

3. It is a performance, usually an adaptation of an existing literary work

4. What is reader’s theatre? It is a performance, usually an adaptation of an existing literary work. Actors use their voices, facial expressions and gestures to convey the image of the scene ~ it is not ‘acted’ with physical movement.

5. What is reader’s theatre? It is a performance, usually an adaptation of an existing literary work. Actors use their voices, facial expressions and gestures to convey the image of the scene ~ it is not ‘acted’ with physical movement. Performers use their scripts as a guide.

6. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

7. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends and major characters in the center. Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

8. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center. Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands. Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

9. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center. Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands. Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an angle, rather than at each other. Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

10. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center. Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands. Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an angle, rather than at each other. Characters “exit” by turning their backs to the audience. (Narrators don’t normally exit.) Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

11. How is it staged? There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most traditional style: Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center. Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands. Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an angle, rather than at each other. Characters “exit” by turning their backs to the audience. (Narrators don’t normally exit.) “Scene changes”—jumps in time or place—can be shown by a group “freeze,” followed by some kind of collective shift. Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

12. How do we create a script? Select the story, text or scene you wish to perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first.)

13. How do we create a script? Select the story, text or scene you wish to perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first) Decide who will play which character ~ remember to include a narrator (If your group is small, you may assign more than one role to a person – be careful that these two characters don’t have to ‘talk’ to each other!)

14. How do we create a script? Select the story, text or scene you wish to perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first). Decide who will play which character ~ remember to include a narrator. (If your group is small, you may assign more than one role to a person – be careful that these two characters don’t have to ‘talk’ to each other!) When rewriting the text, try to move the story along through dialogue.

15. How do we create a script? All members of the group must speak. (Try to keep the parts evenly distributed.)

16. How do we create a script? All members of the group must speak (Try to keep the parts evenly distributed) Write the script as you would a play script, with the characters’ names on the left hand side, a tabbed space and then their lines.

17. How do we create a script? All members of the group must speak (Try to keep the parts evenly distributed). Write the script as you would a play script, with the characters names on the left hand side, a tabbed space and then their lines You may want to include direction on how a line should be read in parenthesis.

18. What to avoid…

19. Long speeches

20. What to avoid… Long speeches Difficult or obscure language

21. What to avoid… Long speeches Difficult or obscure language Rude or inappropriate language that may offend members of your audience

22. What to avoid… Long speeches Difficult or obscure language Rude or inappropriate language that may offend members of your audience Over use of ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ by the narrator

23. How to prepare

24. After writing your script, perform it once for a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted?

25. How to prepare After writing your script, perform it once for a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted? Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback

26. How to prepare After writing your script, perform it once for a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted? Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback Practice, practice, practice!!!

27. Present your reader’s theatre Remember…

28. Present your reader’s theatre Remember… Be confident

29. Present your reader’s theatre Remember… Be confident Speak clearly

30. Present your reader’s theatre Remember… Be confident Speak clearly Be animated (enthusiastic)

31. Present your reader’s theatre Remember… Be confident Speak clearly Be animated (enthusiastic) Have fun!

32. Good luck! Or as they say in the theatre…

33. Break A Leg! Good luck! Or as they say in the theatre…