Introduction to the Play

ALLALLWill be able to Will be able to understand the understand the importance of importance of

stage directions stage directions to our to our

understanding of understanding of the play. the play.

ALLALLWill be able to Will be able to understand the understand the importance of importance of

stage directions stage directions to our to our

understanding of understanding of the play. the play.

MOSTMOST will be able will be able to explain to explain what the what the

stage stage directions tell directions tell us about the us about the Birling family. Birling family.

MOSTMOST will be able will be able to explain to explain what the what the

stage stage directions tell directions tell us about the us about the Birling family. Birling family.

SOMESOMEWill be Will be able to able to analyse analyse

Priestley’s Priestley’s intention. intention.

SOMESOMEWill be Will be able to able to analyse analyse

Priestley’s Priestley’s intention. intention.

To analyse what the opening stage directions have on our understanding of the play. (where are you?)

Stage Directions:

• Close reading of stage directions can make a real difference to your exam grade.

• So use them as much as you can!

Examiner Tip:

- Remember to use the stage directions as well as the dialogue to support your answer.

An Inspector Calls: plot.

The Birling family are spending a happy evening celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft - a marriage that will result in the merging of two successful local businesses. Yet, just when everything seems to be going so well, they receive a surprise visit from an Inspector Goole who is investigating the suicide of a young girl. One by one, it is revealed that all members of the family have a shameful secret which links them with her death.

Arthur Birling; Sybil Birling; Sheila Birling; Eric Birling;

Gerald Croft; Inspector Goole

Stage Directions

Why are stage directions

used?

Why are they important

to a writer?

Why are they important

to an actor/director?

Task:

- Read the stage directions for Act One.

- What do we learn about the Birling Family:- what their appearance tells us

about them. - what their household tells us

about them.

Keywords: note down any words you are unfamiliar with and look them up in the dictionary

The dining room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer. It has good solid furniture of the period. The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike….

This word suggests they are wealthy.

This word suggests that Birling is good at what he does and has earned a lot of money as the breadwinner of the house.

This tells us that Birling is the owner of a factory.

At rise of curtain, the four BIRLINGS and GERALD are seated at the table, with ARTHUR BIRLING at one end, his wife at the other, ERIC downstage, and SHEILA and GERALD seated upstage. EDNA, the parlour maid, is just clearing the table…of dessert plate and champagne glasses etc, and then placing them with decanter of port, cigar box and cigarettes. Port glasses are already on the table. All five are in evening dress of the period, the men in tails and white ties, not dinner-jackets.

ARTHUR BIRLING is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech. His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior. SHEILA is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited. GERALD CROFT is an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town. ERIC is in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive. At the moment they have all had a good dinner, are celebrating a special occasion, and are please with themselves.

Inspector (cutting in)

Eric (miserably)

Eric (suddenly startled)

Mrs B (alarmed)

Most will be able to discuss the effect of a single word and its implied meaning. (Grade B)

Plenary:

ALL: write 5 bullet points explaining why stage directions are important to a writer, the actors and the director.

MOST: write 5 things we learn about the Birling household from the stage directions.

SOME: explain what we learn about the Birling family from the stage directions. Use quotes to support your ideas.

Introduction to the Play

ALLALLWill be able to Will be able to understand the understand the importance of importance of

stage directions stage directions to our to our

understanding of understanding of the play. the play.

ALLALLWill be able to Will be able to understand the understand the importance of importance of

stage directions stage directions to our to our

understanding of understanding of the play. the play.

MOSTMOST will be able will be able to explain to explain what the what the

stage stage directions tell directions tell us about the us about the Birling family. Birling family.

MOSTMOST will be able will be able to explain to explain what the what the

stage stage directions tell directions tell us about the us about the Birling family. Birling family.

SOMESOMEWill be Will be able to able to analyse analyse

Priestley’s Priestley’s intention. intention.

SOMESOMEWill be Will be able to able to analyse analyse

Priestley’s Priestley’s intention. intention.

Where are you now on the arrow?