I’m sure I’m not the only teacher in the world who gets frustrated when students don’t learn their lines. It is impossible to do anything more than block scenes with students who have open books in their hands. They can’t move their hands or arms, their point of focus is in the book rather than the person on stage and they stay static in the … Continue reading Learning Lines
Directing notes from Proof. I’ve been working with my sixth form students today on their Unit 2 Section B group performances. Although it’s the Easter holidays it is a fantastic opportunity to spend some time with the students without the day-to-day politics of school effecting things and getting in the way. There is something lovely, relaxed and very productive about working during the holidays. One … Continue reading The importance of establishing a scene
Jack Dempsey was a professional boxer in the 1920’s who was an icon in his era for his hard punches, good looks and popularity. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1919 to 1926. July, who mentions Jack Dempsey is 13 at the time of the play in 1933, so may well remember seeing or knowing of Jack Dempsey before she went into the orphanage. … Continue reading Historical figures mentioned in the musical Annie
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding workd war 2.The depression originated in the U.S., after the fall in stock prices that began around September 4, 1929, and became worldwide news with the stock market crash of October 29th. The picture is called The Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange and shows a mother and her children during the great … Continue reading 5 ways the musical Annie deals with The Great Depression
Accept the noise When everyone is working hard in the drama studio, developing different ideas into performances, there will be noise. There will be a lot of noise. You need to embrace the noise and accept it. What you must make sure is that that noise is the sound of people working hard and not the sound of people being off task. From experience, it … Continue reading 6 Top Tips for Behaviour Management in Drama
Make it achievable Once you have decided on what performance you are going to do, you need to make sure that the work is achievable. Try to write down everything that your group of students are going to need to do and know in order for this performance to be a success. Once you have that list prioritise them. Is it more important that your … Continue reading 6 Top Tips on Planning a Rehearsal Schedule
BURT'S DRAMA 