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Character

In this project, students learn how a character can be developed. At the end of the project, students perform a brief scene for the characters in their group from a script which they devise.


The aims are to:

  • create a three-dimensional character using various stimuli
  • discover how to devise a script.

By the end of this project, students are expected to be able to:

  • create a realistic character
  • produce a basic improvisation about a character
  • write and develop a script based around the character and perform it.

The skills covered in this project include (but are not limited to) hot seating, prepared improvisation, role-on-the-wall, role play, still image and thought-tracking.

The techniques which are covered in lessons in this project include:

  • hot seating
  • mime
  • performance
  • rehearsal
  • role-on-the-wall
  • script-writing
  • still image
  • thoughts aloud.

The key words which are used in this project include:

  • body language
  • facial expression
  • freeze frame
  • hot seating
  • mime
  • motivation
  • objective
  • performance
  • rehearsal
  • role-on-the-wall
  • script
  • self-evaluation
  • stereotype.

The text which students encounter during this project includes magazine images of people and a script.

This series of lessons has cross-curricular links with English.

Students should be assessed in this project on the extent to which they:

  • create a character from a visual stimulus
  • develop a character and perform it
  • write and develop a short script
  • evaluate their own work and that of others, looking in particular at realistic characterisation.

This project meets the following recommendations from Drama in Schools (Second Edition) (Arts Council England, 2003). For a complete mapping, see Managing: Drama in Schools.

Level 3: Performing

  • Act out improvised dramas and existing scripts, creating characters that are clearly different from themselves, and experiment with voice, gesture, costumes and staging

Level 3: Responding

  • Both in and out of role, comment thoughtfully on the drama and suggest ways of improving it

Level 4: Making

  • Establish a character, with control over movement and voice

Level 4: Performing

  • Experiment with their voices and movement, to create or present different characters in performance

A printable version of the project is provided here:

A summary of the project is provided here:


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