Warm up activities: Free choice drama and vocal warmups
Learn to sing: Now our fairy tale is at an end 'The Ending Song' using the demo track, and sing along to the backing track.
Once children are confident with the words and melody divide the group into half. One sings the first phrase, the other the second then both groups sing the last phrase. Explain that this song is performed to the audience by all the characters.
Revise the plan for the performance that the class agreed upon, putting an outline up on the board to aid with memory.
Step by step work through the proposed plan. Once completed evaluate as a group:
- how you will transition between each component?
- is the story line clear and cohesive?
With your directors eye consider the following as your class create their scenes:
- Levels – does all the action take place with people standing up next to each other? Consider having some characters seated, some on the floor to help demonstrate their importance in a scene. Some children may also be playing furniture and props.
- Where characters are supposed to be coming from and exiting to?
- How bodies are distributed within a space. If everyone’s always sat round the table when there’s a whole stage for them to explore, find reasons to use the space.
- Focusing the action: try to make sure that what’s important is always nearer the front and visible to the audience.
Class checklist:
- What does the audience see?
- Are the positions, interactions and action clearly telling the story to the audience?
- Can everyone who needs to be seen be seen?
- Can everyone who needs to be heard be heard?
