ROLE PLAYand

CHARACTARISATION

a means of exploring attitudes

and beliefs

ROLE PLAY

The process of fullyDeveloping a Character

(like you did with the magic book)

characterisation

Part played by an actor/attitude adopted

ROLE

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO

LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT

YOUR CHARACTER?

WHAT ARE SOMETECHNIQUES

WE COULD USETO EXPLORE OUR

CHARACTER?

LETS FREEZE THE ACTION RIGHT HERE.

IF MAXIMUS COULD TALK WHAT WOULD HE SAY? WHAT IS HE THINKING?

An aid to characterisation: the character speaks their thoughts out loud

THOUGHT TRACKING

THOUGHT TUNNEL

KILL THEM ALL NORMAN. WE CAN’T

HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.

VOICES IN THE HEAD

Questioning a character in role

HOT SEATING

Dear Anna,I miss you so much since you left me. I can barely eat, I can’t work I can’t talk to anyone at all. Say you love me and come back to me. Please. I beg you.Yours always. Ricardo

WRITING IN ROLE

ROLE PLAY CAN HELP US

DEVELOP A STORYMORE FULLY.

Key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama

FOCUS

Build up of excitement

TENSION

WE CAN USE CONVENTIONSTO HELP US

BUILD UP TENSIONOR FOCUS

A stage picture, held without movement

TABLEAU

COME IN …IF

YOU DAAAARE

VOICE OVER

The action is frozenIn time.

Allows for a voice in head Or voice over Or a soliloquy

FREEZE FRAME

KILL THEM ALL NORMAN. WE CAN’T

HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS.

VOICES IN THE HEAD

ROLE PLAY and

CHARACTARISATIONwill help you be a

better actor!and create a better

story!

STATUS

LANGUAGE

RELATIONSHIPS

BACKGROUND

SOCIAL LIFE

ROLE PLAYwill help us investigate

PRACTISE QUESTIONS

• Think back to a character that you successfully portrayed in your Standard Grade Drama Course. Describe that Character.

(3marks)

• List five characterisation techniques you used, or could have used, to develop this character.

(5 marks)

• Choose one from the list above and say how this technique helped you, or might have helped you, to develop a greater understanding of this character

(4 marks)

• Candidates may include standard character card details such as name, age, occupation, personality, appearance, relationships, hobbies/interests etc.

• 3 marks for a description which summarises the character succinctly but fully.• 2 marks for a description which gives basic information but is not fully

informative.• 1 mark for a brief, unhelpful, fairly superficial description.

Techniques listed in the Body of Knowledge are:• character cards• improvisation• role-play• hot seating• voices in the head• writing in role• thought tracking• thought tunnel.• 1 mark for each correct technique. Accept no others. Be alert to inclusions

that are not on this list eg angel and devil, and to confusion with conventions. Do not give marks for any technique not on the list above.

No mark for choice. If more than one is selected, mark the better response.• 1 mark for each valid point made about how the chosen technique helped

develop a better understanding of the character.