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Hello everyone.
My name's Mrs. Riley and I'll be teaching you today.
In our lesson today, we will be looking at reading and performing a script based on the story, "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark." Let's get started.
The outcome of today's lesson is to read and respond to a play script based on "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark" and perform it in front of an audience.
We've got some key words for our lesson today.
That means these words are going to be really important to understand the lesson.
So let's start off by saying each keyword, my turn, your turn.
Are you ready? Play.
Play script.
Playwright.
Audience, well done.
Let's go through what these mean.
A play is a written text intended to be performed in front of an audience that is divided into scenes of dialogue and action.
So you might write a book or which is for people to read or you might write a play, which is for people to perform in front of an audience.
A play script is the written text of the play that includes dialogue, stage directions, and setting descriptions so that the actors and directors can bring it to life on a stage.
So if you and your class were going to put on a play, you would probably all be given the play script and that's what you would use.
So you all know what to do and say.
The playwright is the person who writes a play.
But you'll notice there's a funny difference there in the spelling.
You'd think it would be playwrites as in W-R-I-T-E-S like the word writes.
But actually if you look at the word playwright, it's I-G-H-T at the end.
So just try and remember that because it's going to come up later in the lesson.
And finally, audience is a group of people who watch and actively listen to a play.
So in our lesson today we have three learning cycles.
First, we're going to read and respond to a play script.
Then we're going to rehearse a play script.
And finally we'll work towards performing a play script at the end of the lesson.
But let's start off by reading and responding to a play script.
Plays are texts that are acted out and performed in front of an audience.
They're written by a special kind of writer called a playwright.
A play has lines that are read out loud by actors who are pretending to be characters.
So could you discuss now, have you ever seen or heard about a play? Perhaps it's a play that you've been to or you've heard someone else has been to a play.
It could be of been at school or it could have been somewhere else.
Pause the video and discuss this with your partner now.
Okay, well done.
Let's come back together.
So you may have experienced one of these, a special day out to a theatre near your home, a play that older children at school acted in or a play that's characters in a TV show acted in, or finally a drama group that you or your friends go to.
So let's check your understanding so far.
What is the name of the special kind of writer who writes a play? A: A playwrite spelled with I-T-E at the end.
B: A character or C, a playwright, but this time it's spelled with I-G-H-T at the end.
Pause the video and decide your answer.
Okay, well done.
The person who writes a play is called a playwright, and it's C is the correct answer because can you remember? It's got that funny spelling.
A playwright writes their play down in a play script.
They tell a story they have made up through the play script, but it is very different to telling a story through a book.
There are some things in a play script that stay the same as in a book.
There's a title, there's lots of dialogue, there's words that are spoken aloud, and there's a beginning, middle, and end.
So these are the same as these are things similarities between a play script and a book, but everything else is completely different.
So who's correct, Andeep or Aisha? Andeep says a play script is written by a playwright, just the same as a chapter book is written by a novelist.
All they're doing is telling a story.
Aisha says, I think a play script is written in a really different way to a chapter book.
I don't think it has paragraphs and chapters for a start.
Who do you agree with and why? Pause the video now.
Okay, well done.
Hopefully you agreed with Aisha.
She is correct.
So let's find out a bit more about why.
To tell a story, a playwright has to split a play script into scenes.
So if you were going to write your very own play, you would think about where it was going to be set and who the characters are and what was going to happen in your story.
And then you might decide to split it into scenes.
So the first scene might take place in a castle and the next scene might take place outside and the next scene might take place in a cave.
So you would think about what would happen in each scene.
Scenes are a bit like chapters or sections in a book.
A scene is always signalled by a scene heading in a play script.
For example, scene 1: Plop Meets the Boy by the Fire.
The scene heading tells us what generally happens in this chunk of the play.
From this scene heading, we know that a character called Plop, who's a baby owl meets a boy by a fire.
Lots of dialogue and action happen in a scene.
Dialogue is the words that are spoken by characters both to themselves and to each other.
So here's an example.
So this is an example of dialogue from the play "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark." So Plop, that's the who says it, (to himself nervously) "Oh dear, why does it have to be so dark? Maybe that boy can tell me why he likes it so much." So an actor who is playing a character knows when to speak and act by seeing their character's name before the line.
So for example, here we can see it says Plop.
So if I was in the play and I was playing the character of Plop, I know that this is my line.
This is something I have to say.
This is a stage direction.
It is an instruction to the actor on how to speak and move.
And you can see it's in italics.
The writing's slightly slanted.
So this says "To himself nervously." So if I'm playing the part of Plop, I know I'm not saying this line to another character, but I'm saying it to myself and that I need to sound a bit nervous.
So I might say it like this.
"Oh dear, why does it have to be so dark? Maybe that boy can tell me why he likes it so much." So now we're going to label each part of the play script with the correct tag below.
So you can see at the bottom there at the tags are, you've got to find the character's name, the stage directions, the bits that tell the actor what to do, and the scene heading.
So could you read this part of this play now and identify or label each part of the play script with the correct tag? Pause the video now.
Okay, well done.
Let's see how you got on.
So this is the scene heading.
Scene two, Plop meets the Old Lady.
These are the characters' names.
So in this part there are two characters, Plop and the Old Lady.
And finally we've got the stage directions.
One stage direction is for the actor who's Plop, it says flapping over and landing next to the woman.
So if I was acting that part, I would have to flap over and land next to the woman.
And the old lady's stage directions is softly with a kind smile.
So if you are playing the part of the old lady, you know you would have to talk in a soft voice and with a kind smile.
So it's now time for your first task.
You are going to read the first scene of the play script based on "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark" in the additional materials.
You're going to work in a group of four.
One of you is going to read the setting and the stage directions.
And these are in italics, that's slanted writing.
One of you is going to read as the narrator.
One of you will read as Plop the Baby Owl and one of you will read as the Boy.
You are only going to read scene 1 and then you are going to stop.
So as soon as you see the heading that says Scene 2, you need to stop.
Try to read loudly and clearly enough for all of your group to hear each word.
Add expression to each line if you can.
But remember, we are going to come back to this play script later in the lesson 'cause eventually we're going to perform it.
This is our first time just reading through it.
So don't worry if you need a bit of help with some of the words or if you stumble a bit on your lines because this is our first go at reading through the play script and getting used to the stage directions and knowing when to speak when it says our character's name.
So it's now time to complete this task.
Good luck.
Enjoy it and pause the video now.
Okay, let's come back together.
Well done.
So let's check we read loudly, clearly, and expressively enough.
Could they all hear every word? Perhaps if you didn't hear any, if someone, if you didn't hear any of the lines, you could pause the video now and give each other a bit of feedback.
And they might try the line again to see if they could read it a bit more loudly or with a bit more expression.
Pause the video now and give some feedback and maybe try some parts again.
Okay, let's come back together.
So hopefully you added more expression the second time round and that helped people to hear and understand what you were saying.
Okay, well done.
That was our first attempt at reading through a play script.
Now we are going to rehearse a play script.
So we're going to look at it again and do a bit of practise.
So you've had a first read of the play script for today's lesson.
It's based on "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark", which is a book written by Jill Tomlinson.
It was one of my favourite books growing up because I was a bit scared of the dark and it helped me to learn not to be.
Plop is a young barn owl who is frightened of the dark unlike other owls.
Owls are nocturnal animals.
They are awake at night, so it's really important for them not to be scared of the dark.
Now Plop meets different people throughout the story, who all teach him different things about the dark, like it being exciting and kind.
And each person helps Plop feel less scared about the dark so that he can see its positive sides.
By the end of the story, Plop overcomes his fear of the dark and flies off into it.
This story is about having the courage to face and overcome our fears.
So let's check your understanding.
What is the main message in "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark?" A: Our fears will always stay the same through our lives.
B, we should never do anything that scares us.
C, we should try hard at school.
Or D, we should find the courage to face our fears.
Pause the video and decide which answer's correct now.
Okay, well done.
So the main message is D.
We should find the courage to face our fears like Plop the barn owl facing his fear of the dark.
A play is put together by a director, a group of actors and a stage crew.
A director tells the actors where to stand, how to move and how to speak or say their lines.
The actors play the characters and they have dialogue, which are the lines they speak and the actions, which are the things they do Perhaps like Plop, having to flap.
A stage crew makes the play come together.
They are in charge of all of these.
The set, so the first scene in "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark" is at nighttime by a bonfire where Plop meets the little boy.
So they might have to have a backdrop, which might be a dark sky with some stars on to show that it's nighttime.
The props, perhaps that might be a pretend, making a pretend bonfire on stage where the boy would sit next to.
And the lighting.
So making sure that perhaps a light is shining on the actors so that they're really visible to the audience and the sound effects and music.
So perhaps in that scene there might be some sound effects of a crackling fire.
Is Jacob correct? What do you think? I think it must take a long time for a play to be ready to perform.
There are so many people involved, so many lines to learn, so many props to make, a set to create, it must take at least a couple of months, plus the organisers have to sell all the tickets.
It wouldn't be much good going to all that work and the actors not having an audience.
So do you think Jacob's correct that it must take a really long time for a play to be ready to perform.
Pause the video and discuss your answer with your partner.
Well, well done.
You are right, Jacob is correct.
It takes on average two to three months for professional actors to get ready to get a play ready for performance.
So actors and directors must rehearse a play to get it ready to perform.
Rehearsing is another word for practising.
Discuss what have you rehearsed before.
Pause the video now.
Well done, so you might have rehearsed a class assembly, a speech or a poem to read at school, an instrument ready for an exam if any of you play instruments.
And in rehearsals, in play rehearsals, the director, so if you were doing a class assembly, the director would be your teacher tells the actors, would tell you where you want them to stand for each line, how you want them to speak and how you want 'em to move.
So they're kind of putting it all together and giving feedback to make sure the play is really successful.
Actors listen to the director who gives them advice and feedback.
They might say things like, "Can you say that line a bit louder, or can you look a little bit scared when you say that line? Or could you walk across stage while you say that line?" So it's now time to check your understanding.
I want you to fill in the blanks using the words below.
So the choices of the words you have are actors, speak, important, rehearsing, play script and director.
I'll read this paragraph to you now with a mmm where there's a blank.
So you can start thinking about what goes in each blank.
A mmm tells mmm where to stand, how to mmm and how to move.
Actors read from the mmm so that they know which line to say.
Another word for practising is mmm.
Rehearsals are very mmm for a play to be successful.
Could you pause the video now and decide which words go in each blank? Well done.
Let's see if you are right.
A director tells actors where to stand, how to speak and how to move.
Actors read from the play script so that they know which line to say.
Another word for practising is rehearsing.
Rehearsals are very important for a play to be successful.
It's now time for your second task.
You are now going to rehearse the whole play script based on "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark." So last task you just looked at, scene one.
Now you are going to rehearse the whole play script.
So there is one direct part and five speaking parts.
And one of those speaking parts is the narrator.
So one of you will be the director and then five of you will be have speaking parts.
For example, one of you will be the narrator, one of you will be Plop, one of you will be The Boy.
And then there's two other characters.
So you need to get into groups of six.
How many people need to be in each group? That's right six.
You are going to decide who is going to be the director.
So the director isn't going to say any lines in the play, but they're going to be the one to tell you how to say your line and where to stand and how to make the play really successful.
You're then going to decide who is going to read each of the five speaking parts.
For example, you might say, "Can I please be Plop or can I please be The Boy?" The director is then going to watch the actors say their lines and help to improve their performance by giving them clear instructions about where to stand, how to speak, and how to move.
The actors need to say each line expressively and following the stage directions whilst also listening carefully to the director's ideas.
So remember this is a rehearsal, so it's not going to be just perfectly read out in one go.
There's going to be stopping and starting and "Oh, can I just do that a bit again or do you think you should say that? Can you say that a bit again a bit louder or oh sorry, I forgot to do my stage direction," and move across the stage.
So there's going to be stopping and starting while you rehearse.
And that's okay because later in the lesson, you'll have a chance to perform it.
So I hope you enjoy this second task.
Rehearsing the whole play script.
Pause the video now.
Okay, well done.
I loved seeing you working as a team there and listening to the director's advice and all working together to make your play as good as possible.
So let's check that we worked well in a team that we rehearsed well.
So director, did you give helpful suggestions for how the actors could improve and actors, did you follow the stage directions, read your lines expressively and listen to the director? Perhaps pause the video and have a little discussion if there's anything you think you could do better next time.
And perhaps one thing you think you did really well as a group.
Okay, well done.
So bear those things in mind for the next learning cycle.
So we are now going to perform a play script.
So you've rehearsed the whole play script in groups of six and now it's time to perform.
Performing to an audience means feeling well prepared.
You should now feel prepared because you've completed your rehearsal.
Remember, in real life you would have weeks and weeks to practise to make it perfect, you haven't had much time, but at least you've had a little bit of practise of what it's like to rehearse.
So try to remember that the audience is there to enjoy the show.
Nerves are completely normal.
They can actually improve your performance because when you feel nervous, adrenaline kicks in in your body and that can help you to actually perform even better.
So don't worry if you feel nervous, it's completely normal and it can help you.
And if you forget a line, have another look at the play script and just say it again.
Remember, everyone in your class is there to have fun and enjoy this task.
So don't worry if you forget a line.
So most importantly, have fun whilst you perform.
Okay, so before we go to our performance, let's check what we've just spoken about.
So who do you agree with, Sofia or Andeep and why? Sofia says, "I really dread performing.
I hate the feeling of everyone looking at me and imagining their laugh if I get my lines wrong." Andeep says, "I know what you mean, but I try to remember the audience is there to enjoy it.
I try to have fun whilst I perform.
It's not often we get to do it at school." Who do you agree with and why? Pause the video now.
Okay, let's come back together.
So you'll actually all have different sponsors here and that's fine.
Some people might not like performing whilst other people might love performing.
But let's all try to remember that this is supposed, this is supposed to be a fun lesson and that it's really, it would be really nice if we could all enjoy performing and watching the performances.
And also remember, if you do feel nervous, that is completely normal.
So you are now going to perform the play based on "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark." Each group of six will perform one scene of the play or the whole of the play, whichever your group prefers or however much time you have.
The rest of the class and any adults are going to be the audience.
So you are going to find a space in your classroom or school hall that can become a stage.
The director can sit at the side of the stage and watch closely and think of any feedback that you'll give to the actors.
Actors you need to have a go at saying some or all of your lines from memory.
So see if you can to try and remember your lines.
So when you are in the audience, you need to watch carefully so that you are ready to give the performers feedback.
And don't forget to clap at the end of the performance.
So it's time to pause the video now and perform the play.
In fact, why don't we just say the first group is going to perform and then we'll come back together.
So could the first group perform either scene one or the whole play and then we will come back together again.
Pause the video now and enjoy either performing or being part of the audience.
Okay, well done.
Let's come back together.
Well done to that group.
It's always hard being the first group to go first.
So now it's time to respond and share feedback of the performance.
So audience, I want you to try and share at least three positive points of feedback to each group.
So to just that first group.
And you can share more if you have them.
And then suggest one thing that could be improved for next time.
So you'll all have to think of something.
And perhaps then the group performing could choose three people to give some feedback of things that they really liked.
And then one thing to improve for next time.
And then each group of actors, so the group of actor and director you are going to share with the audience one thing that you rehearse, that you felt well in the performance and one thing that you hadn't prepared for enough.
So the audience gonna choose some people from the audience to give some things that they loved and improvement.
And then the group is going to share what they felt when one thing that they thought they did really well and one thing that they perhaps haven't prepared enough for.
So could you do that now? Pause the video.
Okay, lovely.
Well done.
It's really nice to see you giving, reflecting on your performance and the audience giving that feedback.
So now you need to repeat with the other groups, taking turns to perform whilst do the audience.
And again, when you finish the performance, take the time to ask the audience for some feedback and then have a little bit of time to reflect on something you did really well, something that you hadn't maybe prepared for after each group has performed.
So pause the video now while the rest of your groups perform to an audience.
Okay, well done, let's all come back together to summarise what we've learned today.
We've learned that plays are written in play script form by playwrights.
Plays are intended to be performed by actors in a live performance, usually in a theatre.
Certain play scripts 'cause play script conventions are in all play scripts because they help actors and directors to perform a play.
An audience watches and listens to a play.
Feedback is an essential part of being in a team of actors or an audience because it helps to develop a performance.
So hopefully these skills that we've learned today, helping to read and rehearse and perform a play script will be useful in the future when you are in a play or next time you are watching it, you are watching a play, you might now be a bit more aware of all the preparation that has gone into that performance.
So well done for all your hard work today, especially if you found it a bit nerve wracking performing, you should feel really pleased with yourself that you faced your fears just like Plop does in "The Owl who is Afraid of the Dark." And hopefully I'll see you for some more learning another time.