Conscience Alley
A character walks down an alleyway formed by members of the group as they use persuasive arguments to help make a decision.
Conscience Alley (also known as Decision Alley or Thought Tunnel) is useful for exploring any dilemma faced by a character, providing an opportunity to analyse a decisive moment in greater detail. Participants form two lines facing each other. One person takes the role of the character making the decision and walks between the lines, as each person speaks (or whispers) their advice. When the character reaches the end of the alley, they make their decision.
Teaching Tips
- Students on each side can be asked to give opposing advice.
- Younger or less confident participants can walk down the alley in pairs.
- Those giving advice can also take on roles, such as characters from a book.
- Use prompts, such as ‘You should…’ or ‘If I were you I would…’
- Alternatively, the persuaders can voice the character’s thoughts: e.g. ‘I should apologise…’ or ‘I should speak my opinion proudly’.
The 3-minute video shows the technique in animated form.
Get more advice, lesson plans and ideas about using Conscience Alley in Learning Through Drama in the Primary Years and Drop of a Hat Drama Lessons by David Farmer.
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Bring characters from works of art, book illustrations and photographs to life through drama.
Action Clip
Action Clip is a quick way to bring a freeze frame to life – with no preparation!
Conscience Alley
One person walks down an alleyway made by the group and makes a decision based on their advice.
Cross-Cutting
What is Cross Cutting? The dramatic action switches quickly between two scenes in the same space. Cross-cutting (also called split-screen)
Developing Freeze Frames
How to use freeze frames across the curriculum and in performance.
Drama For Writing
Drama provides children with a meaningful and immediate reason for writing.
Flashbacks and Flash Forwards
Expand on a freeze-frame to create the before and after images. Great strategy for story building in drama.
Forum Theatre
Members of the audience step into a scene and change the action.
Freeze Frames
Freeze frames and still images can be used to communicate ideas, tell a story or bring images to life.
Hot Seating
A character is questioned by the group about his or her background, behaviour and motivation.
Hot Spotting
An amazingly fun and easy way to mix up hot-seating and freeze frames to develop characters
Image Theatre
Image Theatre is the use of still images (freeze-frames) to explore abstract concepts such as relationships and emotions, as well
Mantle of the Expert
Mantle of the Expert involves the creation of a fictional world where students assume the roles of experts in a
Marking the Moment
A drama strategy used to highlight a key moment in a scene or improvisation, using slow-motion, freeze-frames and more.
Role on the Wall
Role on the wall is a collaborative class activity for developing thoughts and ideas about a character.
Soundscapes
The group is conducted to create a sound picture or “soundscape” using their voices and bodies.
Storytelling
Storytelling is one of the most compelling forms of dramatic and imaginative activity.
Teacher in Role
Teacher in role is an invaluable technique for shaping the dramatic process and developing students’ learning. The teacher takes on
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Characters in a freeze-frame speak their thoughts and feelings aloud.
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