Drama Techniques

TSLB3233 DRAMA
When you are ready to begin devising your play, you will
need to use different theatrical techniques.
Use them to create and develop plays and characters
that will be of interest to the audience.
You will be required to keep a note of the various
strategies used as evidence and proof of your
understanding of their use in the theatre.
NAME OF DESCRIPTION OF USE WITHIN THE
TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE THEATRE
The Techniques
Monologue
F r ame Path of
Free z e C onscien
c e
The Hot Seat Mind Tracking
Have you heard of

these before?
s a t io n
ov i
Impr
Task 1
Class Discussion
What are the problems that young people face while

they are growing up?
Family Imag
n ds e
Frie
Workload
Drugs
In the following
Extra bi l i ti e s lessons, we will look
p o n s i
res At conflict within the family –
between children and
their parents!
Task 2
Group work
In groups of 2 or 3, create an IMPROVISEDscene from
the following scenario.
A child of around your age wants to go to a Saturday

night party at a friend’s house. However, there will be no
adults present. The child’s parent/parents are unwilling
for him/her to go. The conflict begins!
REMEMBER
Beginning, middle and ending to your scene
Use a clear voice and suitable movements
Audience location (don’t turn your back on them)
Improvisation
In what way can

dramatists and
Describe in your actors use
own words what is IMPROVISATION?
meant by
IMPROVISATION.
Task 3
Once you have performed your scene in front of the
class, perform it again - but this time, the audience will
be allowed to clap and ask you to freeze (a maximum of
three times)
After freezing, each character in turn will tell the

audience exactly what they are thinking of at that
particular time. You can discuss your character’s
feelings towards another character or react to what is
happening on stage.
This technique is called ‘MIND TRACKING’.

Who does she think she I’m beginning to
is? Telling me what to lose it! He just
do! doesn't listen to
me!
Mind Tracking
What is Mind
Tracking?
When the action of the play is frozen and the character

reveals his/her feelings and thoughts out loud to the
audience.
The other characters cannot hear him/her.
This may happen at any time within the play.

Mind
Tracking
In what way can

dramatists and
own words what MIND
is meant by TRACKING?
MIND
TRACKING
The character does not know what to do!
Task 4 Does he/she go to the party without the
i en ce consent of his/her parents or does he/she
o n sc stay at home?
h of C
Pat He/she needs to consider his/her options.
1) Use your class members to form two lines facing each

other.
2) Members of one line will attempt to persuade the
character to attend the party, while members of the
opposite line attempt to persuade him/her to stay at
home.
3) The character walks between the lines and everyone

will need to argue their point in turn.
4) On reaching the end of the line, the character will
need to come to his/her decision.
PATH OF CONSCIENCE Your
parents will
punish you
for
Negative months !
arguments
The character walks
down the centre
and listens to the Positive
All your arguments Arguments
friends are
going !!
Path of
Conscience
In what way can

dramatists and
actors use
Describe in your The
own words what PATH OF
is meant by PATH CONSCIENCE?
OF CONSCIENCE.
Task 5
Solo work
Everyone now assumes the role of a young person

who sits in his/her bedroom reflecting on what his/her
parents said. Write a MONOLOGUE for your
character.
In the monologue, your character should explore some

of the arguments used in the Path of Conscience
exercise.
At the end of your monologue, your character should

decide that he/she will attend the party !!
What is a
MONOLOGUE?
A Monologue is when a character opens up and recites

his inner thoughts directly to the audience.
In a monologue, the character should discuss

his/her feelings and the most important things in
his/her life.
Monologue
In what way can

dramatists and
own words what A
is meant by a MONOLOGUE?
MONOLOGUE.
Task 6
Your character has gone to the party without his/her parents
consent. However, there is trouble at the party – there is fighting
and the misuse of alcohol.
Your local newspaper has managed to locate a snapshot of the
proceedings and there is a front page spread (including the
snapshot) in the paper.
Group work (5/6 pupils)
1) Form a FREEZE FRAME based on the problems at the
party (using the snapshot in the front page of the
newspaper)
2) Compose your own HEADLINE to illustrate the
picture. Make use of creative language in your
performance of the freeze frame.
What is a FREEZE
FRAME?
The actors group themselves together and use their

bodies to create an image of the situation. They freeze
as if in a snapshot.
To create an effective freeze frame REMEMBER to use :
ss ion s
r e
Levels Focus
Fa cial ex
p
Depth of staging Posture and definite gestures

Freeze
Frame
In what way can

dramatists and
actors use
Describe in your The
own words what FREEZE FRAME?
is meant by a
FREEZE FRAME.
Task 7 HOT SEAT
The Exercise
You are seated (in character) in the hot seat. The
audience will pose you some questions and you
are required to answer these questions IN CHARACTER
The Hot Seat will help you understand more

about your character
Focus Thinking swiftly
SKILLS Information
gained
Imagination previously
The Hot Seat
Describe in your In what way can

own words what dramatists and
is meant actors use
by THE HOT THE HOT SEAT?
SEAT
THE NEXT STAGE??
By now you have learned about the various techniques

that can be used when dealing with a character and
creating your own play.
The next stage is to put these techniques into practice as

you create your own play and its characters.

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TSLB3233 DRAMA

Have you heard of

What are the problems that young people face while

A child of around your age wants to go to a Saturday

In what way can

After freezing, each character in turn will tell the

This technique is called ‘MIND TRACKING’.

When the action of the play is frozen and the character

This may happen at any time within the play.

In what way can

1) Use your class members to form two lines facing each

3) The character walks between the lines and everyone

In what way can

Everyone now assumes the role of a young person

In the monologue, your character should explore some

At the end of your monologue, your character should

A Monologue is when a character opens up and recites

In a monologue, the character should discuss

In what way can

The actors group themselves together and use their

To create an effective freeze frame REMEMBER to use :

Depth of staging Posture and definite gestures

In what way can

The Hot Seat will help you understand more

Focus Thinking swiftly

The Hot Seat

Describe in your In what way can

By now you have learned about the various techniques

The next stage is to put these techniques into practice as

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