1. Plot Structure Notes
Theatre Crafts

2. Today’s Schedule SLHS Presents the Play Discuss viewing requirement
Recommendation: Present Laughter
Intro to upcoming project
Plot structure notes
We will talk Finding Nemo!
Select stories
Create plot structure on your Grimm fable
SLHS Presents the Play
Present Laughter

3. The Upcoming Project
Select a Grimm fairytale/fable to turn into a play
Groups of 2-4
Cinderella
Little Red Cap (aka Little Red Riding Hood)
The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats (yup… not pigs)
Sleeping Beauty
In your groups, you will create the following
A plot structure
A script (with blocking)
Blocking = character movement
A set design
Costume design

4. A plot structure pyramid

5. Exposition Set the scene Introduce characters Establish point of view
There is no story… yet

6. Exposition in Finding Nemo
Marlin’s cautious nature is shown when he goes in and out of the home indefinitely
Nemo’s ‘lucky fin’ is revealed, showing that he was physically affected by the barracuda attack.
We also see that Nemo is a regular kid, annoyed by his father’s worrying.
Marlin is socially awkward, revealed through his terribly unfunny joke.

7. Inciting incident The story starts where the trouble starts
Create conflict
Complicate your protagonist’s life
Protagonist = main character

8. Inciting incident in Finding Nemo
When does the conflict truly begin?
Nemo is taken by the divers
It is the origin of the next act, the rising action

9. Rising action The story builds Key characters are in focus
Characters are in trouble
Many small challenges
leading to the bigger goal

10. Rising action in Finding Nemo
Dorie!
Marlin encounters the sharks.
Marlin goes through the jellyfish.
Meets Crush
Nemo gains the friendship of the aquarium fish.
Nemo attempts to escape the aquarium.

11. Climax The moment of greatest tension
The point to which all events have led
Characters act

12. Climax in Finding Nemo
The search for Nemo intersects with Nemo’s own adventures in the dentist’s office.
The climax continues into the ocean, reaching its peak when Nemo rescues the fish trapped in a net.

13. Falling action Events are a result of the climax
The story nears its end
What is the fallout from the climax?

14. Falling action in Finding Nemo
Nemo saves Dorie after she is knocked unconscious

15. Resolution The protagonist solves the problem Characters change
because of the
journey

16. Resolution in Finding Nemo
Marlin finally tells his whole joke.
Marlin is no longer over protective of his son.
Nemo is confident and happy.

17. Your objective
Create a plot structure for the Grimm fable of your choice
Cinderella
Little Red Cap (aka Little Red Riding Hood)
The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats (yup… not pigs)
Sleeping Beauty