a written text intended to be performed in front of an audience that is divided into scenes of dialogue and action

rules that are followed by playwrights to write play scripts that are clear and easy to follow

the ways an actor uses their body, voice and facial expressions to bring a character to life in a play

Reading and performing a script based on 'Charlotte's Web'

English

In this unit, pupils read, engage with, analyse and act from play scripts for the first time. They learn about conventions of scripts, they learn about directors and actors' roles within a cast and they learn to improvise at the end of the unit. Pupils also build their performance and oracy skills. 

Reading and performing scripts

Which three of these would **always** be involved in getting a play ready to perform to an audience?

Match the **play script convention** to its function.

the words a character says, both to themselves and to other characters

what the actor reads to know when they should speak as their character

an instruction to an actor for how to speak or move in character

Match these **play script conventions** to their functions.

Fill in the gaps. '__________ __________ are the way actors learn, practise and develop their voice, their body and their movements.'

True or false? 'Performance techniques cannot be practised. You are either good at using your voice and body, or you are not.'

Fill in the gap. 'The main job of a director is to give actors helpful __________ for how they can improve their performance.'

Fill in the gap. 'Plays are most often performed in ...'

to understand the story and learn our lines

to practise where we'll stand, how we'll move and how we'll speak

Match each stage of preparing a play with why we do it.

tells the actors how to stand, speak and move

acts as a character and says the character's lines

prepares the stage, props, costumes, lighting and sound for a play

Fill in the blank. 'Putting on a play involves a lot of ...'

True or false? 'If something is live, it is happening right now.'

Starter Quiz