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’.
(3-minute animated instructional video.)
Try These Prompts!
- Should Red Riding Hood talk to the Wolf?
- Should Malala Yousafzai speak out about human rights?
- Should Tom enter the Midnight Garden?
- Should Matilda use her magic powers?
- Should we build a new road through the forest?
- Should the Gruffalo trust the Mouse?
- Should Jack climb the Beanstalk?
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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This new online course covers drama games and strategies. It's ideal for classroom teachers, subject specialists and language teachers at primary, secondary and adult levels.
The Creative Teacher’s Toolkit!
This new online course covers drama games and strategies. It's ideal for classroom teachers, subject specialists and language teachers at primary, secondary and adult levels.
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3D Living Pictures
Bring characters from works of art, book illustrations and photographs to life through drama.
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Action Clip is the perfect way to bring a freeze frame to life – with a clap of the hands!
Conscience Alley
One person walks down an alleyway made by the group and makes a decision based on their advice.
Cross-Cutting
Cross-cutting is a drama technique where the action switches quickly between two scenes in the same space.
Developing Freeze Frames
Developing freeze frames in exciting ways through movement and exploring the curriculum.
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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
The power lies with the audience, as they replace characters on stage to change the outcome of a scene.
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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.
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An amazingly fun and easy way to mix up hot-seating and freeze frames to develop characters
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Participants rapidly sculpt their own or each others’ bodies to express attitudes and emotions.
Mantle of the Expert
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A drama strategy used to highlight a key moment in a scene or improvisation, using slow-motion, freeze-frames and more.
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Draw a body shape and add your ideas about any character! A brilliant collaborative class activity for developing thoughts and
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Storytelling is one of the most compelling forms of dramatic and imaginative activity.
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In Thought-Tracking, characters in a freeze-frame speak thoughts and feelings aloud.
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A fast, fun and effective way of discovering everybody’s opinions about a subject
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