A Well-Known Story

Step 1- The StoryChoose a story you all know well. For example, 3

Little Pigs.

Decide what props you might need. You may use no props at all but create and indicate the locations with members of your group forming shapes.

Improvise the story using dialogue and action with each member playing a different character.

Step 2- NarrationNow build on the initial improvisation by adding

narration. Each of your group must add a narrative speech to introduce their characters and describe some element of the action.

Step 3- MonologueGive each of your characters an opportunity to

present their thoughts and views with a short monologue.

Step 4- Third PersonAllow each of your characters an opportunity to

speak in the third person, to indicate the attitudes and feeling of the character they are beginning to demonstrate. You could perhaps introduce and/or close their monologue with this.

Step 5- PlacardsCreate a number of placards with pens and

card that do a number of things. Use some placards to introduce location, time and/or character. Use other placards to indicate the attitude and internal thoughts of the characters.

Step 6- GestChoose a moment, a scene or even a character

and create a movement/body language sequence that demonstrates who they are and how they are feeling. This can be as simple as the wolf arriving at each of the houses with the expectation of a meal.

Step 7- MusicChoose a song or a piece of music that you think

could introduce or comment on some action of the play. Be as topical as you want- choose from a piece of current music or make it traditional. Think about what it is you want to say when it is juxtaposed against a particular scene or movement.

Step 8- Shifting ModesYou must now go back and rearrange the

chronology and structure of the story. Create episodes that are no longer in chronological order. You could perhaps begin with the ending. The episodes must also shift between different modes of presentation, such as scenes of monologue, extended narration, dialogue, action, song and gest.

AlienationPerform your piece and discuss whether you

have found a way of making the story strange and fresh to the audience. If so, in what way?