Discord

This lesson introduces one of the project’s themes: discord and violence between two groups. Students discuss situations where discord occurs and they improvise a plot. They create a freeze frame showing the key moment and then develop it into a sociogram.

Objectives

• To work in a group to develop a prepared improvisation.
• To identify a key moment.
• To look at proxemics through a sociogram.

Starter

Introduce the theme of discord and violence between two groups. Discuss why discord could arise. Guide answers towards suspicion, greed, revenge and history.

What can change the way two groups feel about each other? Are there ever people caught in the middle? Are these people innocent?

Response

Organise the class into groups of eight. This size should enable students to work in a variety of groupings, with access to different ways of working. Students should improvise a story about a disagreement between two groups. You may wish to conduct a brainstorming session first to fuel ideas. If some students do not have many ideas, then prepare some for them to work on, eg a rumour is spread about one of them. Give the groups time to discuss the exercise.

How can you involve everyone? How can you use the space effectively? What can the audience hear and see?

Development

Ask groups to create a freeze frame of the key moment in their plot and develop this into a sociogram. You may need to explain what a sociogram is. A group might be chosen during the rehearsal period to show an example of a sociogram.

What is the key moment in the piece and why? How do the characters feel about each other at this point? How can you show this in the space and through body language?

Extension task

What can a key gesture for this character be? Does it also show something about the character’s feelings?

Plenary

Show and evaluate some of the groups’ work.

What do you learn about how the characters change in relation to each other? What do you learn about how a large group can affect mood and atmosphere? Is there a ‘mob mentality’?

Homework

Students could complete the following worksheet to embellish the plot they have devised during this lesson, by describing the event which caused discord between the two groups:

Script: Witnessing an event

Alternatively, students could complete the following wordsearch about William Shakespeare. The answers are provided in a separate file:

Script: Wordsearch: Plays of William Shakespeare

Script: Wordsearch answers