Spotlighting is a useful teaching technique for sharing improvised drama when you have divided the class into smaller groups. When it is time to show their work, ask all the groups to sit on the floor. Explain that you will walk around the room and as you get closer to each group, that group will stand up and show their performance. As you move off towards the next group, they will stop the drama and quietly sit down again so that they can watch other groups.
Why use it?
This is an effective way of controlling the time each group takes to show their work and overcomes the problem groups often have of not knowing how to end an improvisation. The teacher controls the time taken by each group and the order in which they perform. Just like a real spotlight, the technique focuses the attention on one part of the room at a time and makes it clear as to which group is taking its turn.
3D Living Pictures
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
Thought Tracking
In Thought-Tracking, characters in a freeze-frame speak thoughts and feelings aloud.
Whoosh! Bringing Stories Alive through Drama
An interactive technique in which participants become characters and objects in a story as it is told.
3D Living Pictures
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
Thought Tracking
In Thought-Tracking, characters in a freeze-frame speak thoughts and feelings aloud.
Whoosh! Bringing Stories Alive through Drama
An interactive technique in which participants become characters and objects in a story as it is told.
