TOUCHSTONES 1 WRITING
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ACTIVITY
In your activity book (see page 96), write another version of the stage directions for the scene on page 153 to change the audience’s perception of the characters. For example, you could make one of the characters a difficult student, or you could make the teacher angry or too nice.
PERFORMING
Create and stage a performance of either Scene A or Scene B from the previous page in a small group.
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Remember that there are five actors needed for the scene. Others in the group could be the lighting director or the sound engineer. Think about how you will use your classroom to create a stage.
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Consider how you could use the existing furniture and classroom objects for the set and as props and costumes.
Acting
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Acting in a play requires a lot of careful thought on the part of the actor. First, they need to consider any clues in the script about the character they are playing. Then they need to think about where the scene appears in the plot of the play. They also need to be conscious of their character’s relationships with other characters. Once all these things are considered, an actor can begin to think about how they will portray their character using their voice, facial expressions, gestures and movement.
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An actor’s voice is their most important tool. Speaking well and pronouncing words clearly allows the audience to follow the plot of the play properly and it also gives an insight into the characters and their motives.
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Facial expressions tell the audience what the character is thinking and feeling. Actors also use gestures and movement to portray their character on the stage. This could be something subtle, such as a slight hand gesture, or something dramatic, like marching across the stage. Sometimes during a performance, an actor has to use their improvisation skills. Improvising means to invent and create a performance on the spot without any prior rehearsal.
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